Conflict at Daegu Islamic Temple Continues... Human Rights Commission Urges Resumption of Construction and Action Against Hate Speech

Buk-gu Office Issues Administrative Order to Halt Construction in February Due to Resident Complaints
Legal Injunction Granted but Opposition Continues

Activists from human rights organizations, including the Migrant Workers' Equality Solidarity, are holding a press conference on June 16th in front of the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, regarding a petition to the Human Rights Commission to stop the construction of an Islamic temple by the Buk-gu Office in Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Amid escalating conflicts over the construction of an Islamic temple in Daegu, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a recommendation calling for the resumption of construction work and measures against banners and advertisements containing anti-Muslim expressions. On the 1st, the Human Rights Commission announced that it had made this recommendation to the head of Buk-gu Office in Daegu.

According to the Human Rights Commission, the group 'Daruliman Gyeongbuk End Islamic Center (DKIC)', which supports the religious activities of Muslim students in the Daegu area, along with migrant worker organizations, filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in June, stating that they were suffering damages due to the construction suspension notice and illegal advertisements such as anti-Islam banners.

In December of last year, Muslim international students at Kyungpook National University were carrying out construction of an Islamic temple near the university when opposition from nearby residents led to an administrative order to halt construction issued by the district office in February this year. Civic groups filed for a provisional injunction to suspend the execution of the administrative order, and the Daegu District Court granted it in July. However, due to continued opposition from residents, construction has not resumed.

In response, Buk-gu Office stated, "The construction suspension notice was issued based on the building permit condition to 'take prior measures before proceeding with construction' when complaints arise, and was not a measure considering any specific religion," adding, "When residents file assembly reports and post banners, the 'Outdoor Advertising Act' excludes such cases from prohibition or restriction, making enforcement impossible."

However, the Human Rights Commission viewed the district office’s construction suspension notice, based on unilateral complaints rooted in negative prejudices against Muslims without clear grounds, as an act of halting the temple construction due to religion, and expressed the opinion that it is desirable to take necessary measures to allow the construction to resume.

Additionally, the Commission judged that the district office’s failure to take action against some banners and placards posted by residents opposing the temple construction, which contained content inciting discrimination and violence against Muslims, infringes on the personal rights of the complainants and members of the complainant organizations. The Outdoor Advertising Act stipulates that advertisements containing content that may cause human rights violations such as racial or gender discrimination cannot be displayed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.