Approximately 900 managers and employees in Ballerup Municipality will undergo training to prevent similar errors that led to the construction of a Turkish state mosque in 2021, instead of the intended “cultural center.” The training focuses on documentation, record-keeping, and the duties of civil servants.

The case originated from Weekendavisen’s reporting on the Turkish mosque in Ballerup Municipality. An internal report and a lawyer’s investigation by Horten revealed that the administration made several errors when informing politicians about the offer years ago.

Local politicians were not informed that the buyer of the land was the Danish Turkish Islamic Foundation, which has ties to Turkish President Recep Erdogan. In 2018, Mayor Jesper Würtzen told the municipal council that the land was sold to the Turkish Cultural Association for a “cultural center”. The sketches were later changed to include a mosque, without the council’s approval or knowledge.

Horten’s investigation concluded that there was uncertainty among employees regarding their duties, including truthfulness and openness about errors. Frederik Waage, a professor of administrative law, described this criticism as “devastatingly harsh.” He also stated that it is a good question why the municipal council never found out that permission was given for a mosque.