In japan, a rising Muslim community is encountering opposition to what it considers to be a basic and straightforward demand: the ability to bury its deceased in line with Islamic traditions. Muslim burial customs necessitate a cemetery for interment, in contrast to Japan's prevalent cremation tradition; nonetheless, attempts to build such locations have encountered societal and political obstacles.
 
The Beppu Muslim Association thought it was on the verge of getting permission to establish a cemetery near the town of Hiji, on the southern island of Kyushu, in september 2020. However, these attempts were thwarted by local citizens' outrage and a surge of false information on social media.

Governor Yoshihiro Murai of Miyagi Prefecture recently addressed the matter, recognizing the challenges encountered by Muslim inhabitants who have a hard time locating burial places, according to a Kyodo news article. "I feel that the government should be more concerned about the lack of attention to multiculturalism, even though it claims to be a multicultural society," Murai said.
 
He said that in response to a request from a Muslim citizen, his prefecture in the Tohoku area of northern japan is contemplating plans for a new graveyard. "Even if I am criticized, we have to do something about this," he said.
 
Japan's Muslim population Surges
The Muslim population in japan has seen a dramatic change in demographics in recent years. About 110,000 Muslims lived in the country in 2010. Due in large part to Japan's expanding educational and career options for foreign nationals, that number has increased to almost 350,000 by 2023. The number of mosques has increased in tandem with this boom, rising from four in 1980 to 149 by the middle of 2024. Only around ten significant religiously related cemeteries are accessible countrywide, indicating that burial infrastructure has not kept up.
 
Social media antagonism, where false information about the dangers to public health and cultural prejudices against burial customs have been extensively disseminated, has further increased opposition to Muslim burial sites. The leader of the Beppu Muslim Association, Muhammad Tahir abbas Khan, has even filed a lawsuit against a YouTuber who made untrue statements about his goals. Khan is still dedicated to establishing Muslim burial rights in japan despite these obstacles, highlighting the importance of inclusiveness and respect in a changing culture.
 

 
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SIBY JEYYA

04/02/2025 08:43 AM