Kaunas:The recent burning of a Quran in Vilnius and an incident involving bikers outside a historic Tatar mosque in Kaunas have sparked heated discussions on immigration and religious tensions in Lithuania.

According to Anadolu Agency, a video showing the Quran burning circulated over the weekend, though police noted it occurred on September 13. In Kaunas, bikers disrupted prayers by bringing a pig's head outside the mosque, shouting, singing, and allegedly threatening the Muslim community.

Mufti Aleksandras Beganskas reported receiving threats to burn the mosque and harm him and his family.

Politicians have responded differently to these incidents. Tomas Tomilinas blamed unnamed figures for inciting discord, while Laurynas Kasciunas, leader of the opposition Homeland Union, suggested reducing the annual foreign worker quota from nearly 25,000 to about 10,000, except for highly skilled workers. Kasciunas also recommended recruiting from countries culturally closer to Lithuania.

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas plans to propose a new migration policy, claiming the current quota system is ineffective. In contrast, Social Security Minister Inga Ruginiene believes the existing system is stringent and works well.

The current year's quota was used up by early September, prompting business leaders to call for a more defined long-term migration strategy.

The Kaunas Mosque, built by the Tatar community between the two world wars, symbolizes the long-standing Muslim presence in Lithuania, with Lithuanian Tatars residing in the region since the late 14th century.