The Albanian-born Imam Bashkim Aliu has been forced to flee all its public functions in Switzerland, following a research of the Swiss newspaper Sontags Ziitung, which uncovered homophobic statements and his contacts with radical Islamic circles.
Aliu, by the middle of this week, led the Imam Commission near the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland ( FIDS), while it was also the highest theological authority of the Union of Islamic Organisations in Zürrich ( VIOZ).
After the research release, FIDS immediately dismissed him from his duties, while Ali himself resigned from all positions within VIOZ.
According to the Swiss newspaper, among the controversous attitudes of the imam was a post of 2017, in which he had named the Pristina Parade Pristina Parade of shame.
After publishing these statements, FIDS and VIOZ organisations distanced themselves from his positions, stressing that homophobic statements and those that violate human dignity are contrary to their principles and Swiss law.
The research also revealed Ali’s participation at a conference in Doha, Qatar, in January 2024, where the International Assembly of Muslim Erudites, an organisation closely associated with the Muslim Brethren, was held.
The same event had also given a speech to the then leader of Hamas, Ismail Hanije, who was later killed in Tehran.
FIDS leaders said they had no knowledge of Ali’s participation in this conference. Meanwhile, VIOZ announced that he had not travelled on behalf of the organisation and that the case is further verified.
The issue has also taken political dimension because of public financing of organisations where Ali had held leadership positions.
From 2017 to 2025, the Zürich Canton had divided about 2.5 million francs for the Islamic spiritual care project in public institutions. In addition, the organisation had benefited annual support of 50,000 francs from the city of Zurich.
The signal where the truth speaks before the news!
Source Layer: Signal