An Albanian Islamic association is planning to build a large mosque in the Swiss city of St. Gallen, with estimated costs of up to 15 million Swiss francs, according to a report by Blick.
The proposed mosque, to be built near Fürstenlandstrasse, would cover about 1,000 square metres and include a prayer hall for hundreds of worshippers, as well as commercial space and a cafeteria open to the public.
The project is being led by the Islamic Community El-Hidaje, which has operated a smaller mosque on the outskirts of St. Gallen for decades. Visual materials shared online show a modern building with a glass dome, designed by an Albanian architect based in Switzerland.
Organisers have not yet submitted a formal construction application and say the project remains in an early phase.
Funding drive and scale
The association has been raising funds through online platforms and community events, with around 3 million Swiss francs already collected, according to social media posts cited by Blick.
Previous statements from project representatives suggested construction costs of about 10 million francs, with an additional 5 million for land, potentially making it one of the largest mosques in German-speaking Switzerland.
Full details on funding sources and timelines have not been disclosed.
Community positioning and scrutiny
Leaders of the mosque community have publicly rejected extremism, describing their approach as moderate. At the same time, past statements by religious figures and a 2014 fatal shooting at the existing mosque have drawn media attention and scrutiny.
Switzerland has seen recurring debates over mosque construction, often centred on integration, transparency of funding and local approval procedures.
Local authorities in St. Gallen have not yet commented on the project, and it remains unclear when a formal building request will be submitted.