Bronisław Tumiłowicz
Construction of a mosque in Warsaw in the mirror of the Polish press
Paper to be presented at the 8th Pan-European Conference on International Relations: One
International Relations or Many? Multiple Worlds, Multiple Crises.
19 September, 2013, 2-3.15 p.m., 07 Section: Culture(s) in International Relations: Cultural
Turn and Cultural Trap, Panel : TC07-1: Religion as culture „in a pill” in contemporary IR
University of Warsaw,18-22 September, 2013, Warsaw, Poland
Date of submission: 6 September, 2013
Affiliation of the Author: University of Warsaw, Poland
e-mail: [email protected]
Key words: mosque, Musulmans, Warsaw, protest
Abstract: Story of building of a mosque in Warsaw based on press reports. The origins
date back to 1989. End of the investment still can not see.
Bronisław Tumiłowicz
University of Warsaw, Poland
Building a mosque in Warsaw has a long history. It can be traced reviewing press releases.
The history begins in 1989, the first year of polish transition. Two years later, in the text of
„The place for a mosque” „Gazeta Stołeczna” wrote, edition of 02.02.1991:
„Bajońska Street in Saska Kepa mosque was to be built. City of Warsaw have decided in May
1989. Applicant - Muslim Religious Union (four thousand participant in Poland ) - has
prepared the necessary documents and plans which, if accepted by the chief architect of the
city were transferred to the office of the district Praga - Południe. Then things started to get
complicated. Against the construction of the mosque appeared inhabitants who fear noise ,
mess ...
Planned mosque in Bajońska Str. was canceled, so Muslims met in a converted mansion in
1993 on the Wiernicza street 103 in Wilanów (one of five free-standing , active mosques in
Poland). The end of Ramadan in 1997, Gazeta Stołeczna wrote again:
„ Islamic Center filled believers. Mosque in a villa at Wiertnicza that stand out from other
minarets and crescents, tightly surrounded dozens of cars. To measure could barely squeeze.
Faithful pray even in the vestibule. Muslims celebrated yesterday one of the two most
important holidays Islam - Eid al Adha. Warsaw pray in the only mosque in the capital, which
is located in Wilanów. „
Another mention in Gazeta Stołeczna, a supplement to Gazeta Wyborcza, comes from
6.10.2008 year: Title : In Warsaw able mosque?
„Muslims want to build the first mosque in Warsaw . - This is the last great religion whose
adherents do not have a temple here - says Mufti Tomasz Miśkiewicz .
It started with an entry in the online forum Gazeta.pl: „ The Polish Council of Islam
announced that it has received all permits for the construction of a mosque with minarets with
a height of 25 meters and publicity for the muezzin 102 dB. „
In the following states:
„ The construction of a mosque in Ochota hear a hundred years. At the beginning of the
twentieth century Polish Tatars had intentions of bringing him to his land plot Right behind
today’s Ministry of the Environment . „
After the war, outbound parcel received . In an interview with Gazeta Mufti Tomasz
Miśkiewicz, chairman of the Muslim Religious Association argues :
„In the capital and the surrounding area already live about seven thousand Muslims. They
have a few meeting places, and the house of prayer at Wiertnicza Str. bursting at the seams.
The mosque will be a cultural and inter-religious dialogue center. - There will be a
monumental building, but modest to blend into the landscape. Minarets , if you will, is
certainly less than 25 meters - provides Miśkiewicz . - In Poland, there are only three
mosques. This would be four. „
Things came together pretty quickly, because even though the request for the establishment of
an investment location and the decision of the zoning was made 24.11.2003 the period
between the application for a building permit on 27.02.2008, in May of this year was the
approval of the construction project and provide building permit in June 2009 - the transfer of
the site , together with the technical documentation of the object, and in September 2009, has
made the foundations and walls of the second floor was built underground . In the same year
he was still erect walls and columns of the first floor underground and erect walls and
columns of the first floor above ground. And then there was a half-year break , among others
due to the bankruptcy of the contractor.
In Polish Wrocław quartely „As-Salam” Samir Ismail, the then President of the Muslim
League in Poland, talked about the beginnings. This interview from 2010 was titled „Building
Bridges”.
„ Already in 2002, the two organizations Polish Muslims (Muslim Association of Shaping
Cultural and Muslim League in Poland) launched a project to create a modern center , whose
activities will be primarily aimed at the construction of cultural and religious dialogue .
Islamic Cultural Centre concept was approved by the local authorities since 2003, the project
went through all the necessary legal procedures under the relevant institution, which has been
used with success in 2008. We were held dozens of meetings with the municipal authorities
and the state invented not encountered any problems - some of the issues requiring
clarification , and were explained . Indeed , the project was and is biased in favor of wellknown personalities from the world of politics. „
Samir Ismail also talks about the concept in which was also to be located in a mosque.
„We want to be part of Polish society , to live his issues , solve problems and build shared
prosperity of the country , avoiding any form of intolerance against ethnic or ideological
differences . We want to stand out, but only positively , sincerity and perfect organization .
Centre is to build bridges of understanding and dialogue with the full spectrum of Polish
society. Hopefully we look at the role that will play in the contact of civilizations and
cultures, building a spirit of knowledge, cooperation and tolerance in our country. Usually it
will be a representative part of the Polish landscape, for example, in a situation where visits
famous people, they will want to visit this place . You know that in 2012 will be held in
Poland European Championships in football. Many players who come here then professes
Islam, after all , so we will have the opportunity to invite them to our Centre, which will be a
real honor. Newest Muslim youth began to wonder about Zinedine Zidane’s invitation to the
opening of OKM . (...)
It will be a multi- center , designed to serve the broadest possible spectrum of society. Is to
carry out such the following objectives: the primary objective, which is to build a bridge of
understanding between the Muslim culture and other religions; integration of Polish society ,
regardless of race, gender, political affiliation or religion , by the multicultural dialogue . (...) .
In practice, we plan to carry on different activity. In the cultural field has to be a gallery of art
and calligraphy , the library , which is an important source of knowledge for Arabists and
people interested in the Orient , as well as language courses, cooking courses for Muslim
culture. We want to organize the „White Days” for residents of the municipality and the
inhabitants of Warsaw , where doctors will provide free medical advice. „
Samir Ismail , however, also mentions a petition calling for the suspension of construction,
but at the end to ensure that:
„ By the end of 2011 the Muslim community center should be ready for use , insza’a Allah . „
Polish media dealt with, but since then a mosque rather in the context of a protest organized
by the Association Europa Przyszłości (Future of Europe) .
Newspaper wrote, the Association managed to gather about 100 people, and that there were
liberals , feminists , Vajrayana Buddhists and MłodzieŜ Wszechpolska. The demonstrators
warned that mosque Muslim League would be „a breeding ground for extremists .”
The text also cites passages Europa Przyszłości statement :
„ The anxiety concerns the development of political Islam which undoubtedly belong to the
group gathered around the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. We want to prevent the
instrumental treatment of the Islamist movements democracy , promoting human rights, is
contrary to Sharia and Islam in Europe instead of creating a European Islam. „
Gazeta Wyborcza on 23.12.2010 writes:
„Construction site workers went down , even though the concrete structure of Muslim
Cultural Center in Ochota has not reached the expected heights. - Allah on that investment
somehow disarmed - says the designer of the building „
Construction of the Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich and the case stalled again began to get
complicated , because it became loud with another investment, a mosque in the Włochy
district. Quarterly „Fronda” wrote about it in 2012.
„ Work on the construction of the mosque at Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich came to a stop.
Meanwhile, in the capital can grow another meeting place for Muslims. Residents of Warsaw
-Włochy district already worried that their quiet neighborhood turns into a kind of muslim
town. Especially that wants to build a mosque Association Ahmadiyya - sectarian fraction is
not recognized by orthodox Muslims who even do not allow its members to Mecca ... „
This text also mentions the story of the construction of the Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich:
„So far, most of the more than ten thousand Muslims community in Warsaw , in order to
participate in the Friday prayer, he must go to the headquarters of the Muslim Religious
Union in the Wiertnicza str.(district of Wilanów). Muslims are still waiting for them to grow
mosque with 18-meter minaret in Ochota district. However, this too does not want to grow up.
Temple was to be ready for the beginning of Ramadan in July , but construction was stopped
again , as announced on Monday capital daily „Gazeta Wyborcza”. First protested against the
construction of the inhabitants of Warsaw . When the protests died down, the contractor the
company Azbud went bankrupt.
It is difficult to predict when the Muslims manage to finish the temple at Rondo Zesłańców
Syberyjskich. „
But it turned out that the protesters against the construction of a mosque in Ochota district in
principle in favor of the construction of the Włochy district, but turn against her are residents
of the neighborhood , especially closest neighbors. By the way, it is worth noting how quickly
the growing number of Muslim - at least in the media that serve a variety of calculation. The
article was written in 1991 , that in Poland lived four thousand followers of Islam , „Fronda”
in 2012 reported that only in Warsaw, there are over 10 thousand .
The protest took place in March 2010. He mentions including Gazeta Wyborcza on the pages
of local 24.03.2010 :
„Opponents of the Islamic Cultural Center will be on Saturday to protest at the construction
site in Ochota district. Throughout the city they instaled posters calling for demonstrations . „
There has been here for some mysterious activities disinformation, because these posters
appeared in an additional inscription: Protest canceled.
The situation was commented on a variety of media . Here is information on PAP March 29,
2010
Title information : „John Paul II liked to Muslims , you do not want the mosque”
„ The Counsil Catholics and Muslims in Polish Episcopate are concerned confusion about the
construction of the Muslim Cultural Center in Warsaw. Found incomprehensible protest
against the construction of Jewish association B’nai B’rith Polish Polin .
On Saturday in Warsaw was a demonstration of several dozen people against the construction
of a mosque . It has housed the Islamic Cultural Center , which is formed at the Rondo
Zesłańców Syberyskich in Warsaw. Manifestation organized by the Association of the Future
of Europe.
Joint Council of Catholics and Muslims in a statement recalled that, in accordance with the
Constitution and the law on guarantees of the freedom of conscience and religion „any
officially recognized religion in Poland has the right to erect religious buildings „ .
Warsaw City Hall spokesman Thomasz Andryszczyk reported that the administrative
authorization procedure for this investment was completed in 2006 - from our point of view, it
is an investment that goes. We do not enter into any ideological arguments . There is no
reason to interfere in the investment process. The project is to be completed at the end of this
year - he said.
Council, referring to Saturday’s protest , expressed „ concern that this type of confusion takes
place in the home of John Paul II , who was pope visited the mosque and performed numerous
overtures to Muslims, and many of them have expressed their grief at his death. „
For understandable and explainable found nothing to protest against the construction of a
mosque in Warsaw Polish Jewish association B’nai B’rith Polin.
Fostering anti-Arab sentiment is no different from incitement to anti-Semitism - the
association wrote in a statement. In the opinion of the ‘ inter-religious conflicts and protests
against the building of temples by the minority lead to unnecessary hostility between social
groups. „
The statement noted that „not everyone is radical Islam .” - In the vast majority of Muslims,
we Jews want to roll the fruitful dialogue - underlined.
About the protest also extensively wrote daily „Rzeczpospolita” March 27, 2010 .
„Dozens of people protested in Warsaw against the construction of a mosque near Rondo.
They built the slogan: „ Tolerance is not naivety „, „ Blind tolerance kills common sense .”
Protest at the Rondo was organized by the Association of Siberian exiles Future of Europe .
Its CEO Jan Wojcik said that the organizers are asking the signing of the Charter of the
Muslim community in which she renounces such violence and use of force in the name of
reason, sense of injustice .
Data calls include to the „common fight against terrorism ,” including the „ observe and
monitor mosque sermons and other programs mosque lections to catch messages inconsistent
with the Charter .”
We are afraid of radical Islam and we have the right - said Wojcik . He added that the
construction of the mosque is to be financed with funds from Saudi Arabia. He stressed that
the mosque is build Muslim League .
The demonstrators held a banner saying: „ We do not want a mosque .” They distributed a
colorful balloons.
During the demonstration , the other side of the Rondo lined up a group of members including
Workers Democracy. Chanted slogans : stop racism , stop intolerance. Between the two group
set a police guard of honor .
We respect the right to freedom of speech, of expression, andy practice the constitutional right
to freedom of conscience and religion , „- said the president Muslim League Samir Ismail. We are Polish citizens , as evidenced by our work - he added. Stressed that did not show up
for demonstrations and appealed to Muslims not to organize counter-demonstrations . „they
have the right to protest , we have the right to freedom of religion „- he added.
On its website the Muslim League called for „ the Polish Muslims, and (...) Polish community
to maintain the highest level of calm and reason , and to avoid any kind of provocation .”
Announced that „the project of building a Muslim community center in Poland underwent all
the procedures in force in the relevant state institutions .”
In the text there is also some encyclopedic data:
„In Poland there for 30 thousand . Muslims , most of them are Tatars - settled in Poland for
over 600 years . Muslims pray in the three mosques : The Bohoniki ( since the eighteenth
century), Kruszyniany (probably from the second half of the eighteenth century ) and Gdansk
, prayer houses : In Bialystok , Suchowola , Łódz , Katowice and Poznań , and Islamic centers
in Bialystok , Lublin , Wroclaw, Warsaw, Poznan and Katowice.
The issue is quite simple . If an item was settled with the city , the mosque can be created said a spokesman for the Muslim Religious Association Musa Czachorowski . - Under the
Constitution, everyone has the right to profess one’s religion or belief - he noted.
If we recognize that the mosque violates human rights , then tomorrow you would say that the
construction of the church or synagogue violates the law - he said. In his opinion, „there is no
reason to worry about the supply of radical Islam.”
This information also posted 27.03.2010 Wirtualna Polska Internet portal. The author - Joanna
Stanisławska :
Minarets as missiles- heads . Aggressive Islamists in Poland?
A woman in niqab (veil covering the face completely ) , the rows of minarets look like
missiles against the heads of the Polish flag and the slogan „ Stop Islamisation „ , „ No
mosque radicals „ - a poster from a few days hanging on the streets of Warsaw . Hung them
opponents of the construction of the Muslim community center in Ochota . The newly formed
their opinion mosque is a dangerous foothold fundamentalists.
Mosque with a minaret in the center of Warsaw
12 - meter high temple of Islamic minaret (one , not the government ) is to stand near Blue
City shopping center . Builds the Muslim League in Poland - a registered and legally
operating in Poland religious association . The Centre will be a place for a library with a
multimedia room , an art gallery , a café , a restaurant , and above all, a prayer room . - It will
be an open center with a rich program aimed not only to Muslims. Our goal is to build bridges
and establish contacts with Poles , promoting Polish society - Virtual Poland says Samir
Ismail , President of the Muslim League in Poland. As reported , the tower will be a classic
minaret , the muezzin ‘s voice will be heard only in the prayer hall .
League not only spread the ideas of Islam , but also teaches and reinforces principles of the
religion , the main aim of the organization is such integration of Polish society ( while
preserving the Muslim identity ) , the defense of human rights and the fight against all forms
of racism and intolerance - we read in the statutes.
Our organizations operate completely independently . We can say that in some sense are
complementary - said in an interview with Wirtualna Polska Musa Czachorowski , a
representative of the Muslim Religious Union in Poland. In Warsaw, one of the municipalities
in place since 1925, the Association runs a mosque at Wilanów district . The hotel is not a
typical Muslim house of prayer , but adapted villa . Do not have a minaret . Do you need a
second capital of the mosque ? - Warsaw is a city open migrants settle here from Muslim
countries in the hope of a better life , working too many businessmen and diplomats. Surely
there is room for such a center - says Czachorowski .
„ We reject the Islamization of Polish ! „
On Saturday at noon , the creation of a mosque opponents organized a picket . The main
organizer is the Association of the Future of Europe from Wrocław, who at one time showed
the controversial exhibition „The First Holocaust of the twentieth century, „ the extermination
of the Armenians by the Turks in 1915, however, many other groups. „ The demonstration is a
protest concerned citizens. For the past several years to several additional countries in
Western Europe will be gradually dominated by Muslims , who largely do not assimilate . (...)
We reject the Islamization of Polish . Although it is not with us yet a serious problem , it is
better to counteract advance than wring their hands afterwards „ - organizers explain on their
website. The headline reads: „ No mosques in Poland .”
In addition to the website founded by opponents of mosque building profiles on social
networks. The most active on Facebook, where they have been nearly two thousand . fans . „ I
crossed the number of 1683 members. (...) I recall that in 1683 the number of Poles is our
symbol , which should keep in mind the whole of Europe [ in September 1683 , troops from
the Polish- Austrian-German forces led by King Jan III Sobieski defeated the army of Kara
Mustafa at Vienna . After the victory of the Ottoman Empire ceased to be a threat to Christian
Europe . Who knows if we will again need to face the new hordes of barbarians „ - wrote a
few days ago on board one of the members of the group . Another example of an entry on the
website : „ I am not against any rational religion, but to say that this time is necessary to act
against Hitler. In a word ‘yes’ to Islam adapted to the European context , ‘ not ‘ for ‘
integration ‘ of the Sharia „ .
Surprising inconsistency , because the protesters say they will not allow for any extreme
terms. „ We do not promote racism against Arabs , Turks , Tartars, or any national and ethnic
minority „ - write. However, there are racist content .. Muslims include called „ savages „ .
****
Press publications cited here reflect the moods associated with the construction, but the topic
is not particularly popular in the media. It can be assumed that this was the case embarrassing,
like taboo .
For example, the most representative of the media mainstreem weekly reviews „ Polityka”
responded in March 2010 to a problem posting an extensive article about Polish mosques and
plans for the construction of a section noting that the initiative has built a grand temple before
the second Word War Muslim colony in the Polish capital. However, the radicals from „Nasz
Dziennik” at all silent ongoing dispute, includes information while the title was „the Grand
Mosque in London will not” ( in December 2012 ) :
„ The municipal authorities rejected the project of Newham mosque, which would be one of
the largest in Western Europe and several times larger than the Anglican Cathedral St. Paul,
located in the British capital? .
The year is 2013. The topics of construction and the protests was so far in the media.
Finishing works at the Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich still ongoing . The project is planned
for the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014 - says the designer . May be.