SVP Launches Petition Against St Gallen Mosque Project

SVP Launches Petition Against St. Gallen’s 15 Million Franc Mosque Project

Political friction is mounting in western St. Gallen over an ambitious religious construction project proposed by the El-Hidaje Islamic-Albanian community. First brought to wider public attention through regional media reports via «SonntagsBlick» in April, the planned development at Fürstenlandstrasse 49 envisions a sprawling center spanning roughly 1000 square meters of floor space. The complex is designed to feature an imposing glass dome, a round building with a large glass front, ornate prayer halls, additional rooms for shops, a cafeteria, and capacity for roughly 300 to 400 persons.

Though developers have yet to submit a formal building application to the city, local political opposition has moved swiftly. The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in St. Gallen used a media conference on Thursday to officially launch a petition directed at the city council (Stadtrat) and the cantonal government (Kantonsregierung), demanding rigorous scrutiny of the entire undertaking.

«Aus unserer Sicht handelt es sich nicht um einen gewöhnlichen Gebetsraum. Wir sehen darin ein Bauwerk mit einer weit über die reine Religionsausübung hinausgehenden Bedeutung», warned SVP-Stadtparlamentarier und Kantonsrat Donat Kuratli during the party’s presentation. Kuratli emphasized that the Swiss legal framework, the applicable building law, and the interests of the resident population must be given unrestricted priority.

«Wir wollen keine Mega-Moschee in St. Gallen», said Donat Kuratli on Thursday at the launch of the petition. A project of «this magnitude» should not be approved, according to Kuratli.

Financial Transparency and the Debate Over Foreign Capital Sources

SVP representatives express skepticism and argue that it is doubtful whether the sum of 15 million francs can be raised through domestic donations alone.

The stadtsanktgaller SVP fears too high a burden for the quarter and financing from abroad. The Imam behind the mosque plans tried to dispel such fears early on. The plans of the Islamic-Albanian community «El-Hidaje» to build a new mosque on Fürstenlandstrasse had already caused lively discussions in April.

Neighborhood Strain, Traffic Projections, and Parallel Structures

Beyond financial scrutiny, the petition committee targets potential infrastructure and urban planning burdens. The planned location is situated directly near the Burgweiher recreation area and within sight of the Tröckneturm, which is considered a cultural asset of national importance. The petition committee is of the opinion that a project of this magnitude must be carefully evaluated not only under building law, but also regarding its long-term impacts.

Kevin Loosli, president of the Young SVP Canton St. Gallen, warned at the press conference about additional burdens for the neighborhood. Religious services, religious holidays, and the operation of the shops and cafeteria could regularly attract larger crowds of people. The committee fears resulting in more arrivals and departures, parking search traffic, and a heavier strain on public space. The spatial conditions in the densely populated quarter are already limited today. The effects on the Burgweiher recreation area and the appearance around the Tröckneturm must also be comprehensively examined.

Due to the size of the project, negative impacts on traffic, noise, security, and the cityscape in the quarter are to be feared, according to Kuratli. The new building must be examined with «greatest care» regarding these aspects. The SVP also warns against parallel structures. With a petition, the SVP wants to prevent the mosque, while the Imam Mehas Alija previously stated that the build is expected to accommodate around 300 to 400 people.