STOCKHOLM – A leaked video recorded during Friday prayers at the Al Rahma Mosque in Kristianstad has ignited public outrage across Sweden after Imam Saleh Abouelenen was heard instructing men to hit their wives when they defy their husbandsโ authority. Swedish government officials swiftly condemned the sermon, framing it as emblematic of the โhonor cultureโ blamed for a persistent and troubling pattern of violence against women in the country.
Outrage in Sweden after a video leaked from the Friday prayers at the Al Rahma Mosque in Kristianstad.
— Visegrรกd 24 (@visegrad24) October 1, 2025
The imam Saleh Abouelenen was recorded saying that men should hit their wives when they disobey their husbands.
Swedenโs Migration Minister Johan Forssell says itโs an exampleโฆ pic.twitter.com/sylwFyY9mq
Migration Minister Johan Forssell described the incident as a โdisgusting exampleโ of honor-based ideology, emphasizing that such views have no place in Sweden. Social Minister Jakob Forsmed announced a formal investigation into whether the mosque received funds from Swedish taxpayers. โPublic money must not support activities that contradict essential democratic principles,โ Forsmed declared, referencing Swedenโs stance against anti-democratic institutions.
The issue reverberates beyond the mosqueโs walls, touching on deeper concerns about integration and honor-related violence. Sweden, home to approximately one million Muslims, has struggled for decades to confront honor killings and related crimes, including forced marriage and coercion. According to the Swedish Police Authority, nearly 4,500 suspected cases of honor-related crimes were logged between 2019 and 2021 alone. Such incidents are marked by prior planning, involvement of multiple perpetrators, and the perceived necessity to restore family pride at the expense of the victimโs life or freedom.
Former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch previously stated, โIslam must adapt to Swedish values. Muslims who do not integrate must leave the country. Honor killings, beheadings, stoning of women, and Sharia law have no place here.โ Notable cases such as Sara Abed Ali, Pela Atroshi, and Fadime Sahindal, murdered by relatives for alleged โdishonor,โ mobilized Swedish society in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Yet, despite legislative reforms criminalizing forced marriage and honor-related coercion, the problem persists.
Honor killings most often target women and girls suspected of pursuing relationships deemed inappropriate or refusing arranged marriages, dressing โimmodestly,โ or even reporting sexual assaults. Family members sometimes kill victims by throwing them from balconies, later claiming witnesses saw them jump, complicating murder investigations and prosecutions. Swedish authorities have dedicated resources to outreach, education, and enforcement, but cultural complexities and a lack of integration continue to challenge effective solutions.
The Kristianstad case is the latest to underscore the dilemma. The imamโs words have been widely circulated, with reactions demanding accountability and legislative action. While politicians debate funding and oversight, human rights advocates warn that silence or equivocation from religious authorities enables further violence.
The government is expected to publish findings from its inquiry into mosque finances in the coming months. Meanwhile, critics from across the political spectrum caution that simply addressing funding will not be enough; systemic change is required, including greater community engagement and a reaffirmation of Swedish legal and social norms.
For Swedenโs Jewish and Zionist communities, recent events highlight the necessity to uphold universal human rights and stand in solidarity with those targeted by religiously motivated violence. As Sweden wrestles with questions of integration, the protection of women and the defense of democratic values remain central to the nationโs moral fabric.
This article is based on verified information from Swedish news agencies, government statements, and reputable public sources.