Mayor of South Korea’s Daegu Urges Expulsion of Those Who Foment Islamophobia

The mayor of Daegu, a city in North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea, called for expelling those who incite hatred against Islam.

Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said they have been provoked by some who want to suppress Islam.

But the mayor’s call has drawn anger from those opposing the construction of a mosque in the city.

The committee opposing the mosque’s construction held a press conference in front of the city’s municipality on Friday, calling on the mayor to apologize for his remarks.  

The construction of the mosque near Kyungpook National University in the Buk-gu area of Daegu remains suspended amid protests from the residents.

Non-Muslim residents have opposed the mosque plan since it was first floated in 2020, saying a place of worship is not suitable for a residential area.

The mosque plan came as the university has seen a rise in the admission of Muslim students from parts of Korea and other countries in recent years and the need for a prayer house for them emerged, according to the report.

The protesters have collected signatures to resist the mosque and filed a complaint for a court injunction. Meanwhile, the local government issued an administrative order to halt the construction immediately.

However, the order was overturned with a court ruling, and construction resumed. However, the uproar from residents continued.

The conflict intensified in recent weeks as the opponents hung a series of banners in the area against the mosque's construction.

The row turned ugly when unknown people left the heads of pigs in front of a temporary Muslim prayer center in Buk-gu.

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