Daegu mosque construction stalled for 6 years amid hate speech concerns

A six-year dispute over the construction of an Islamic mosque in Daegu, South Korea, continues to escalate, with a citizens' group demanding action against hate speech and the stalled project. The Committee for the Peaceful Construction of the Daegu Islamic Mosque held a press conference urging the newly elected Buk District mayor, Lee Geun-soo, to make the mosque's resolution his top priority.

The committee accused the district office of "inciting conflict and hatred" by allowing banners with discriminatory messages against Muslims to remain displayed. Protesters, including groups like the Free Korea Party and anti-halal organizations, have been demonstrating near Kyungpook National University, displaying signs with unfounded claims such as 'Terrorists will come if halal comes' and 'Islamic culture makes women sex slaves.'

Kyungpook National University student Kang Jung-soo described the escalating intensity of the hate speech, noting that students and citizens supporting the mosque's construction feel increasingly intimidated. The committee also criticized the Buk District office for effectively ignoring national guidelines aimed at prohibiting advertisements that promote hatred and discrimination, thereby contributing to the problem.

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The Buk District office is condoning hate and discrimination by neglecting to remove Muslim-hating banners, which incite conflict and hatred.

A district office representative stated that the banners were only displayed during permitted protest times and that it was difficult to intervene as the protests were officially registered. The mosque project itself has faced numerous setbacks since 2020, including construction halts due to resident complaints and disputes over deviations from approved designs. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 allowing construction to resume, the project remains on hold after the district's architectural review committee requested further consultation on resident complaints.

Harris Rizwan, a Muslim graduate student at Kyungpook National University, appealed for a fair resolution, stating that Muslim students and their families face difficulties in fully exercising their fundamental right to religious freedom. He requested respect for legally permitted construction and equal treatment under the law. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has previously cited the mosque's construction delay as a prominent example of racial discrimination in South Korea.

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We are not asking for special treatment. We request a fair resolution that allows for the legally permitted construction, respect for constitutionally guaranteed rights, and equality before the law.