Pakistan embassy issues clarification on Japan mosque row

TOKYO: A dispute over the construction of the “Jamia Masjid Ramadan” in Kawagoe, Japan, has escalated from a local administrative matter into an international discussion.

TOKYO: A dispute over the construction of the “Jamia Masjid Ramadan” in Kawagoe, Japan, has escalated from a local administrative matter into an international discussion.

The issue gained wider attention after the participation of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan, Abdul Hamid, in the mosque’s inauguration ceremony held in April this year. Following this, Japanese, Indian, and Israeli media outlets highlighted the matter extensively, while various claims and discussions also spread on social media.

According to details, the inauguration ceremony of the Jamia Masjid Ramadan took place in April, where Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan attended as a special guest.

Later, Kawagoe City Mayor Hatsue Morita held a press conference stating that the mosque was constructed in an urban development control area without obtaining the required legal permissions under local regulations. She described it as an unauthorized construction.

The issue intensified further as international media coverage increased, particularly from Japanese, Indian, and Israeli outlets. Some Indian media platforms and social media accounts reportedly used the incident for anti-Pakistan propaganda, while unverified and exaggerated claims also circulated online.

In response, the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo issued a clarification statement. It said the ambassador had been assured before attending the ceremony that all legal and administrative requirements for the mosque’s construction had been fulfilled.

The embassy stated that prior to the ambassador’s participation, inquiries were made regarding legal compliance, and it was confirmed that all rules had been followed.

However, the embassy later learned that some regulatory requirements had not been fully completed.

The statement emphasized that the Pakistan Embassy in Japan consistently advises the Pakistani community to strictly follow local laws and does not support any project that violates Japanese regulations.

It further said that the controversy has not only caused concern among the Pakistani community in Japan but has also unnecessarily drawn Pakistan’s diplomatic activities into international debate