Islamic Center Bern Plans to Purchase Church Meeting Point for Mosque

The Wittigkofen BE meeting point is slated for sale. Currently owned by the Evangelical Reformed Church of Bern, the Islamic Center Bern now intends to acquire this community hub, as reported by the “Berner Zeitung.”

“Bernese Mosque” Project

The center’s website details plans for a large prayer room alongside spaces dedicated to religious and educational activities. The project has been named “Bernese Mosque.”

The meeting point has historically served as a community center for the Petrus parish and is considered a vital location for the Wittigkofen district. The church routinely provides the space for events, including owners’ meetings.

Signatures Against Sale

Opposition to the sale is building. Members of the regional church, also involved in the free church community, are working to halt the transaction and are actively collecting signatures. Tobias Barth, a member of the regional church and an employee of the Free Church Hope Community, is among those opposing the sale.

In an open letter, Barth and his colleagues voiced concerns that the district could possibly evolve into a “Muslim ghetto.” The center acknowledges these concerns and is committed to initiating dialog with the community.