Japan: a mosque inaugurated by the Pakistani ambassador threatened with demolition

A mosque built in Saitama prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, could be demolished after being deemed illegal by local authorities. Named “Ramadan Grand Mosque”, it was inaugurated last April in the presence of the Pakistani ambassador to Japan, Abdul Hameed. According to Kawagoe City Hall, the building was built without the required permits in an area where new construction is strictly regulated. The authorities claim to have ordered work to stop as early as December 2024, but the mosque was still completed and opened to the public.

The city’s mayor, Hatsue Morita, said she wanted to see the building demolished “as quickly as possible”, saying the current situation was “unacceptable”. The investigation carried out by the authorities was complicated by difficulties in identifying those responsible for the project. The original owner of the land allegedly refused to communicate the identity of the buyer, while municipal agents were unable to obtain precise information from the workers present on the site. Ownership was eventually transferred to a company registered at the same address as the religious complex.

This affair is sparking lively debate in Japan, where the Muslim population is growing. It highlights the difficulties linked to the establishment of new places of worship, but also the strict requirements of Japanese urban planning law. The Pakistani embassy said its ambassador accepted the invitation to the inauguration in the belief that all legal permissions had been obtained. She also called on members of the Pakistani community to fully respect Japanese laws, particularly regarding the construction of places of worship.