Japanese City Asks Mosque to Cancel Park Event for Islamic Festival
The mosque says it was previously allowed to use the park, and members are bewildered by the sudden shift in policy.
The mosque, Hira Masjid Gyotoku, is located near Tokyo Metro's Gyotoku Station. According to the mosque, since its establishment in 1997, it has used part of Minamioki Park as a venue for cultural exchange gatherings, holding prayers and setting up stalls every year for both Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha.
In the spirit of cooperation with the community, the mosque has continued discussions with the local neighborhood association and others, organizing community-wide events and trash pickups.
As in previous years, they applied to use the park in connection with Eid al-Adha on May 27, but say the municipal government asked on May 19 that the application be withdrawn. A representative of the mosque said, "They told us that 'if people gather, nearby residents won't be able to use the park.'"
The mosque pointed out that they have spent about 30 years building a cooperative relationship with the community, and that because many Muslims gather on Eid al-Adha, if they cannot use the park there is a risk people will spill out onto the road. But the talks ended with both sides still far apart.
According to the city's Division of Park and Green Space Management, internal rules govern standards for park-use permits, and prohibit uses intended to promote political, religious or other beliefs or causes. Based on those rules, the city has not allowed religious speeches or proselytizing in the park, but says it has judged that praying itself does not violate the standards.
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An official from the division acknowledged that the meeting on May 19 "did happen," but declined to clearly say whether the city had asked that the application be withdrawn. The chief of the city development department, who attended the meeting, similarly stated, "I can't say anything."
A mosque representative asked for understanding, saying, "We want to get along well with the people in the neighborhood. We want to follow the rules and become a model for mosques across the country." The head of the local neighborhood association said, "When the mosque was first established, there were problems like bicycles being left on the street and improper garbage disposal, but through discussion things gradually improved, and now there are no major problems. Everyone knows they are making an effort. When people gather in a group, it can look unusual to Japanese people, but our stance is to live together as fellow members of this community, person to person."
Source: mainichi.jp
