LITHUANIA, Vilnius: Until recently, Lithuania’s Muslim community was small, primarily composed of Tatars who settled in the country centuries ago. However, due to immigration from Muslim-majority regions in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as conversions, the community has expanded to over 15,000 individuals, according to community leaders.
This estimate represents a remarkable increase from the previously reported figure of 3,000 just a few years ago. The majority of this growth is concentrated in Vilnius, where approximately two-thirds of Lithuanian Muslims now reside, attracted by employment opportunities in the capital city.
Attendance at the capital’s sole mosque has also surged, rising from 600 to around 1,500 worshippers. Services are conducted in Russian to accommodate the linguistic preferences of the immigrant population, although there is a desire among community leaders to eventually conduct services in Lithuanian.
Despite some challenges stemming from anti-Muslim propaganda in Europe, relations between the Muslim community and other groups in Lithuania remain largely positive. Most new arrivals have integrated smoothly into Lithuanian society, contributing to the country’s cultural diversity.
