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Police Search in a Prague Mosque

(This article expired 29.05.2014 / 11:45.)

Intervention of the Czech police in two Islamic centres in Prague has been recently reported by Indonesian media. The event raised interest due to the fact that Indonesian citizens including a diplomat have been affected by the police search, conducted at the time of prayer on Friday, 25 April. The Embassy offers information that may complement or further explain the media reports.

The Czech police entered and searched premises of the Islamic Foundation in Prague because of criminal proceedings against a Czech citizen, suspect of providing for translation, publication and distribution of a book spreading racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and violence against “inferior” races. People gathered in the prayer room underwent an identity check. Due to the large number of the congregation, the police was unable to quickly identify persons enjoying diplomatic status. However, they were allowed to leave immediately after their identity had been established. This is also the case of other Indonesian citizens, none of whom has been detained or taken into custody. The police detained the Czech suspect and accused him of promoting a movement suppressing human rights and freedoms, which is punishable by the Czech law. Besides, about 20 people were questioned by the Foreign Police and some of them face expulsion. The police intervention did not aim at curbing the religious freedom, which is protected by the constitution and other laws of the Czech Republic and widely respected throughout the country, but targeted primarily the spreading of racial and religious hatred.