Politics · Switzerland · 1 day ago
Swiss imam leaves Zurich Muslim organisations after scrutiny of statements
Bashkim Aliu has left leadership roles at two Swiss Muslim organisations after scrutiny of his statements and contacts.
Until this week, he led the imam commission of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland and served as the senior theological authority for the Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich.
A 2017 Facebook post described a Pride event in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, as a “parade of shame.”
The organisations say anti-gay and inhumane statements conflict with their principles, which include equality and respect for Swiss law.
Questions also followed Aliu’s attendance at a 2024 conference in Doha, where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh appeared; the federation said it had not known Aliu attended.
The Zurich association said he did not attend on its behalf and that his participation is being reviewed.
The scrutiny matters because the Zurich association has received public-linked funding, including about 2.5 million Swiss francs from the canton between 2017 and 2025 for a Muslim chaplaincy project, plus annual city support of 50,000 francs.
Authorities and funding bodies say they are examining the concerns, while the federation has removed Aliu from his duties and he has resigned from the Zurich association.
Bashkim Aliu has left his roles with Muslim organisations in Zurich after a newspaper investigation into his statements and contacts.
He resigned from all positions at the Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich, and the Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organisations in Switzerland removed him from his duties immediately.
The investigation reported that Aliu called a Pride event in Pristina a “parade of shame” in a 2017 Facebook post.
It also raised questions about his attendance at a 2024 conference in Doha, where then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh appeared.
The organisations said homophobic or inhumane statements conflict with their principles and that the concerns are being examined.
- Who
- Bashkim Aliu, an influential Swiss imam.
- What
- He left his roles at Zurich Muslim organisations after scrutiny of his statements and contacts.
- When
- He left his posts in the week before the report published on 8 November 2026.
- Where
- Zurich, Switzerland; the conference that drew scrutiny was held in Doha, Qatar.
- Why
- The SonntagsZeitung reported homophobic statements and contacts with Islamist circles, prompting questions and further checks.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aliu described the Pride event in Pristina as a “parade of shame” in a Facebook post.
Aliu attended the general assembly of the International Union of Muslim Scholars in Doha, where Ismail Haniyeh also appeared.
The Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich received about 2.5 million Swiss francs from the Canton of Zurich for the Quams project.
Funding for the project began coming through grants from the Reformed and Catholic churches.
Aliu resigned from all roles at the Zurich association, and the national federation removed him from his duties immediately.
- Imam
- Bashkim Aliu
- Zurich association
- Association of Islamic Organisations in Zurich (VIOZ)
- National federation
- Federation of Islamic Umbrella Organisations in Switzerland (FIDS)
- Canton funding
- About 2.5 million Swiss francs, 2017–2025
- City of Zurich support
- 50,000 Swiss francs annually
- Conference
- Doha, January 2024
What people are saying
parade of shame