Media Criticized for Stereotyping Minorities

Muslims in Japan censure media for stereotyping minorities, creating image that Islam is dangerous and associated with groups like al-Qaeda 

Tokyo, 28th November 2024 – Published as the 42nd article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article

Series: Freedom of Religion Under Threat – Part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders

Concerns over prejudice: “Religion is dangerous”

by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

See part 1: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article, 46th article

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 47th article, 48 article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

Outrage in Resident Muslim Communities

Sayyed Sajjad Shah, a 67-year-old self-employed resident of Nagoya, is a follower of the Ahmadiyya Muslim minority group. He is affiliated with the Japan Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.

Shah was born and raised in a family of doctors in Pakistan, where he was seen as having a bright future. However, as the only Ahmadiyya believer in his high school class, he faced discrimination. This deeply troubled both him and his parents, ultimately leading them to make the difficult decision for him to leave school.

This experience strengthened his resolve against religious persecution and deepened his commitment to the principle of freedom of religion.

Shah’s Journey in Japan and His Advocacy for Religious Freedom

Shah migrated to Japan in 1984 and has been an active and devoted member of the Japan Ahmadiyya Muslim Association since the organization moved its headquarters from Tokyo to Nagoya in the 1980s. The association now has over 500 members. However, recent criticisms of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the government’s subsequent dissolution request have heightened concerns within the association.

Shah asserts,

“The teachings of Islam do not advocate for the deprivation of religious freedom. Wise religious leaders must explain this to the government.”

He believes that the spread of negative sentiment toward religion in Japan stems from a lack of education and understanding about it.

While the Family Federation faced scrutiny for excessive donations beyond its followers’ means, Shah highlighted the Ahmadiyya approach:

“In the Ahmadiyya community, contributions and charitable giving are entirely voluntary. All funds collected and their uses are meticulously recorded and disclosed to members. This transparency ensures trust and satisfaction among believers.”

Promoting Unity and Understanding Across Religions

Through Shah’s introduction, Anis Ahmad Nadeem, the Japan headquarters’ head missionary for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, participated in the Aichi Prefecture Conference for Building Paths to Religious Harmony and Unified Peace on 5th October 2024, organized by Family Federation members in Nagoya. In his guest address, Nadeem emphasized,

“No one has the right to deprive others of religious freedom.”

A similar event titled One Osaka 10.14: Weaving the Value of Faith into the Future was held in Osaka on 14th October 2024. Religious commentator and journalist Humayun Mughal, a former friend of the late politician and professional wrestler Antonio Inoki, delivered a keynote speech wearing a suit and red shawl reminiscent of Inoki’s style. He declared,

“True happiness arises only when there is freedom of faith, freedom of the soul, and freedom of the heart.”

A Shared Experience of Cultural and Religious Advocacy

Mughal, a Sunni Muslim, came to Japan 40 years ago as a student at Waseda University. Drawing on his experiences as an interpreter for the Pakistani Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he leads an Islamic cultural research group. Despite decades of life in Japan, he continues to grapple with differences in culture and customs, strengthening his resolve to promote understanding and harmony.

Humayun Mughal Expresses Concerns Over Prejudices and Religious Freedom

Mughal lamented the challenges facing Muslims in Japan, sharing an ongoing struggle to establish an Islamic cemetery in Kyushu. Local opposition has stalled the project, leaving it without approval. Currently, there are only seven burial sites in Japan where Muslims can be interred according to Islamic traditions, and none are located in the Chūgoku, Shikoku, or Kyushu regions.

He also pointed out a widespread misconception equating Islam with extremism, saying,

“Many people in Japan still associate Islam with groups like Al-Qaeda, reinforcing the notion that religion is strange or dangerous.”

Mughal criticized the media for creating and perpetuating stereotypes, highlighting a similar issue in the backlash against the Family Federation.

Mughal expressed deep concern about the government’s dissolution request for the Family Federation, viewing it as a potential threat to Muslim communities. “Politics should not interfere in matters of religion,” he argued, fearing that government actions could create precedents affecting Islamic organizations.

He explained,

“Islamic groups are already under surveillance by public security authorities, like other new religious organizations. If the dissolution of the Family Federation sets a precedent, it could lead to increasing restrictions and possibly dissolution orders for Islamic groups as well.”

Mughal warned that such developments would not only hinder Muslims’ ability to freely practice their faith but also create broader societal challenges, making life more difficult for Muslims in Japan.

Featured image above: Sayyed Sajjad Shah being interviewed. Photo: Tsuyoshi Toyoda (豊田剛) 

See part 1: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article, 46th article

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 47th article, 48 article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

Related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Japan: Exhibition Exposes Horrors of Persecution

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Related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Courts Using Debunked Concepts Against Minority

Also related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Dissolution Case: Wild Claims, Illegal Actions

Also related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Terms from Consumer Law Used to Rob Faith

Also related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: 2nd-Generation Members Protesting Persecution

Also related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

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And yet more related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Japan Censured at Religious Freedom Event

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And still more related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Malicious One-Sided Government Source Selection

More related to stereotyping minorities in Japan: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

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