In Switzerland, a growing number of young people are secretly converting to Islam – often without their parents’ knowledge.

Lara, from Zurich, converted at the age of 15 after one of her teachers gave her a Quran as a gift. “Mum, from now on I am a Muslim,” the girl told her parents. When Lara secretly recited the Islamic declaration of faith at 15, her mother did not suspect anything. The truth came to light following a phone call from the school. A Muslim teacher had previously given the underage child a pink-bound copy of the Quran without informing her mother. A “gift” that caused strife between mother and daughter.

Immer mehr Jugendliche in der Schweiz konvertieren heimlich zum Islam – oft ohne Wissen der Eltern. Auch Lara aus Zürich wechselte mit 15 den Glauben, nachdem ihr ein Lehrer einen Koran schenkte. https://t.co/olnFcM4Dfa

— exxpress (@exxpressat) August 10, 2025

Lara’s story, reported by the Tages-Anzeiger, is not unique: Swiss mosques, by their own admission, receive weekly enquiries from young people wanting to convert – often minors – who take this step in secret. Critics warn of the appeal created by clear rules and an idealised image of Islam, which obscures the reality of women’s situation in many Muslim countries.

„Islam gives me the truth”

The mother rejects her daughter’s new religion, despite both describing their relationship as good and close. On the subject of the conversion, they simply say:

„We do not talk about it.”

The young girl who converted to Islam said:

„My class in Zurich was very mixed, with 18 of us from 16 different nationalities. I started to take an interest in other religions early on and asked my friends about them. I read a lot. For me, Islam is the most understandable religion. It gives me the truth. In the Quran, women are equal.

Her mother said she noticed the girl withdrawing from her.

”Before she converted, I noticed Lara was becoming more distant, her circle of friends changed, and more and more Muslim boys and girls were around her. But I thought it was just puberty. To me, Islam is dangerous. Women and girls have no rights. And I find it frightening how easily they can be manipulated.”

The young girl told te Tages Zeiger website that she wants to live her own life and sees her mother’s concerns as exaggerated. Nevertheless, to please her mother, she does not wear a veil and does not pray in front of her: “I do not want her to worry.”

Young people studying the Quran. Photo: AFP

Islam appeals to the young

No one knows how many people convert to Islam in Switzerland each year. The federal government estimates the number of converts to be between 9,000 and 12,000. What is certain is that Islam attracts many people with a Western upbringing, especially young people. Kaser Alasaad, imam of the Volketswil Mosque – one of the largest Muslim places of worship in Switzerland – said:

„Every week people come to me wanting to convert, and many are minors, often young people with Muslim friends.”

Federico Biasca, researcher at the Swiss Centre for Islam and Society in Fribourg, has written a large-scale study on how Muslim organisations guide converts.

“Mosques and Islamic associations are increasingly engaged young people who want to become Muslims.”

It is important to note, however, that it is rarely extremism that attracts them.

”Many are drawn to the clear rules. Others are interested in Islam’s intellectual or spiritual dimension.”

Legally, in Switzerland, a person reaches “religious majority” at the age of 16. From that age, anyone can decide for themselves whether they belong to a religious community and, if so, which one. According to Biasca, however, most mosques set a higher age limit at 18 or even 20 years.