95–100% | |
90–95% | |
50–70% | |
30–35% | |
10–20% | |
5–10% | |
4–5% | |
2–4% | |
1–2% | |
< 1% |
Islam inLithuania, unlike many other northern and western European countries, has a long history starting from the 14th century.[2] The medievalGrand Duchy of Lithuania, stretching from theBaltic toBlack seas, included several Muslim lands in the south inhabited byCrimean Tatars.[3] A few Muslims migrated to ethnically Lithuanian lands, now the current Republic of Lithuania, mainly during the rule of Grand DukeVytautas (early 15th century). The Tatars, now referred to asLithuanian Tatars, lost their language over time and now speakLithuanian; however, they maintained Islam as their religion. Due to the long isolation from the greater Islamic world, the practices of the Lithuanian Tatars differ somewhat from the rest ofSunniMuslims; they are not considered a separate sect, however, although some of the Lithuanian Tatars practice what could be calledFolk Islam. One anonymous Lithuanian Tatar who made Hajj to Mecca acknowledged in his work therisale that the Lithuanian Tatars had unorthodox customs and rituals so that they could possibly be viewed as infidel (kafir) from the perspective of orthodox Muslims.[4]
In Lithuania, unlike many other European societies at the time, there was religious freedom. Lithuanian Tatars settled in certain places, such as aroundRaižiai (inAlytus district municipality).
Much of the Lithuanian Tatar culture, mosques, graveyards and such were destroyed by theSoviet Union after it annexed Lithuania. After restoration of Lithuanian independence however the government supported the promotion of Lithuanian Tatar culture among those Lithuanian Tatars who lost it. Three original wooden mosques remain now (in villages ofNemėžis,Keturiasdešimt Totorių (both inVilnius district municipality) andRaižiai (Alytus district municipality), typically having relatively large Muslim populations), as well as a new brick mosque built inKaunas during the period of interwar independence of Lithuania (in the 1930s) to commemorate the anniversary of Vytautas, the duke who brought Tatars and Islam to Lithuania. That mosque is calledVytautas Didysis Mosque after the Grand Duke Vytautas. In the capital of Lithuania,Vilnius, however, no mosque remains, as Russians destroyed theLukiškės Mosque which was there. The Lithuanian Tatar community is trying to rebuild the mosque, but faces various problems, including lack of funds as well as certain actions by the government ofVilnius city municipality.
Currently, only several thousand Lithuanian Tatars remain, making up an estimated 0.1% of the country's population;[5] however, with the restoration of Lithuanian independence, they are experiencing a kind of national revival with evidence to suggest there are several hundred non-Tartar converts to Islam.[6]
During the time of the Soviet Union, some people from other Muslim nationalities were moved in, however many of them were atheists; as well other Muslims came as immigrants after restoration of independence, but as for now this number is very small compared to similar numbers in western Europe; therefore Lithuanian Tatars remain the core of Islam in Lithuania, supported by some Lithuanians who converted. Halal meat in the country remains difficult to obtain, with more observant Muslims slaughtering animals themselves.[7]
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