From Barbecue to Boiled Pork... Conflict Escalates at Daegu Islamic Center Construction Site

Residents Opposing Employee Building Hold Press Conference Condemning Buk-gu Office

On the afternoon of the 2nd, residents opposing the construction of an Islamic temple in Daehyeon-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, held an event eating boiled pork and beef soup in front of the temple construction site.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Conflicts surrounding the construction of an Islamic mosque in Daegu continue. Residents opposing the mosque construction held an event on the 2nd in front of the mosque construction site where they ate boiled pork and beef soup. The event strongly resembled a protest against the mosque construction.

The 'Emergency Countermeasures Committee Against the Islamic Mosque (ECC)' composed of residents from Daehyeon-dong and Sanggyeok-dong in Buk-gu, Daegu, held a press conference around 11:30 a.m. in front of the Buk-gu Office, condemning the office by saying, "They are trying to take away residents' homes to build convenience facilities for foreigners."

The ECC also rejected the Buk-gu Office's proposal to purchase land near the mosque to resolve the conflict. The ECC stated, "On the 19th, we received an official letter from the Buk-gu Office seeking opinions on purchasing land adjacent to the Islamic mosque," adding, "This is nothing but a unilateral notice to evict residents."

After the press conference, residents moved to the Islamic mosque construction site and held an event where they ate boiled pork and beef soup. The ECC prepared food for 100 people and set up about 10 tables in the alley in front of the construction site for dining. Around 40 residents came to the site and shared the prepared food.

The ECC also held a barbecue party in front of the mosque construction site last December, which sparked controversy. In Islamic civilization, eating pork is taboo, and beef must be slaughtered according to Islamic methods to be consumed. Consequently, some criticized the residents' event of eating pork and other foods as an act of hatred and discrimination that does not respect cultural diversity.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled in September last year in a lawsuit filed by the builder against the Buk-gu Office's construction suspension order that "the construction is lawful."