Swedish Muslims take public questions to the street at 150 locations

A street campaign started by Malmö imam Kashif Virk is inviting strangers to ask direct questions about Islam as Sweden approaches Sunday's election.

Virk created Fråga en Muslim, or Ask a Muslim, in 2017. With volunteers from the Ahmadi Muslim community, the campaign has now visited more than 150 farmers' markets, squares and city centres, according to a Guardian report.

The Swedish-born imam said some encounters are rude, but described most people he meets as friendly, interested and willing to learn. The project is built around face-to-face conversation rather than answering political slogans with another slogan.

Other people interviewed in Malmö described a more personal cost. An unnamed nurse said political attacks on her religion and hijab felt dehumanising. Onyango, who has lived in Sweden for nine years and works in supply chains, said he had begun planning a fallback home in Kenya. His friend Waithira said the atmosphere made her think twice about buying property or starting a business.

Their experiences do not measure national opinion. They show what the election debate feels like to some people whose belonging has become part of the campaign.

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