„We inform that, after reviewing and evaluating the available video footage, and familiarizing with the received reports, a decision was made today to initiate a pre-trial investigation under two articles of the Criminal Code – Article 170, Part 2 (Incitement against any nation, race, ethnic, religious or other group of people) and Article 171 (Obstruction of religious rites or religious ceremonies),“ – Kaunas County Police reported on Monday.
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On September 11, immediately after the incident, administrative proceedings were initiated for possible violations of the requirements for organizing assemblies and other events, and circumstances were clarified for a possible pre-trial investigation.
15min reminds that on Friday at noon in Ramybės Park in Kaunas, near the mosque, a group of bikers gathered – about 100. During Muslim prayers, they played loud music, revved motorcycles, shouted patriotic slogans, and displayed a pig’s head they had brought.
As reported by the portal kaunas.kasvyksta.lt, after the prayers ended, in response to the bikers’ shouts, the Muslims gathered for the prayers began chanting “Allahu akbar.”
However, the tension between the motorcyclists and the Muslim community did not escalate into a more serious conflict.
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Kaunas County Police spokeswoman Odeta Vaitkevičienė then informed BNS that administrative proceedings were initiated for violations of the requirements for organizing assemblies and other events. An administrative fine of 30 to 150 euros may be imposed for this.
The police then also began clarifying circumstances under the Criminal Code article concerning incitement of hatred against a group of people.
In recent months, the Kaunas mosque and its surroundings have repeatedly become places of public discussions and actions.
In the summer, discussions arose after the Kaunas mosque administration posted a request on social media to “not display intimate physical closeness too openly” on its premises. This caused considerable outrage, and a Kiss Day was even organized in Ramybės Park.
