Following the execution of Korean hostage Kim Sun-il by militants in Iraq, the mosque in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, received bomb and arson threats and has been put under police guard as a potential target of attacks by angry citizens. Police built a security guard around the mosque to prevent any outrage that may be spurred by anti-Islamic feelings among Koreans. About 15 police officers are standing guard at the mosque entrance. Hwang Eui-gab, secretary general of the Korea Muslim Federation, said that he had to deal with more than 50 phone calls from angry citizens who heard about Kim’s death and some had threatened to bomb or set fire to the mosque. "One outraged citizen even called at the office and asked where he could find some Iraqi people on whom he wanted to take revenge," he said. "I explained to everybody who called that the incident has nothing to do with the mosque and our worshippers. Although I am one of millions of Koreans who are greatly saddened by the loss, I believe Muslims residing in Korea shouldn’t be targets of terror in return."
| The ever-popular "wudn't me" defense... |
Around 100,000 foreign Muslims live in Korea and a further 35,000 Koreans follow the Muslim faith. Hwang said there are eight mosques in Korea. "I feel so terrible for what happened in Iraq," said Faruk Zunbul, a 44-year-old Muslim from Turkey. He urged Korean people not to blame his religion or its believers.
| Bet he doesn't feel nearly as bad as Kim Sun-Il did. And why shouldn't anyone blame his religion or its believers? They're killing people in the name of that very religion... |
"I don’t think the terrorists in Iraq understood the true teachings from the Quran, which says murder is the greatest sin that men can commit.
| ... "if they're horribly out-numbered, like we are here in Korea"... |
"It’s never acceptable in our religion. This tragedy has nothing to do with the Islamic faith. It’s human beings who made this disaster happen, not religion," he said.
| "They just happened to be rolling their eyes and shrieking about Islam at the time..." |
"But most Muslims here didn’t feel in immediate danger because of Kim’s murder. "There could be a possibility (of danger caused by Koreans), but I don’t think anything serious will happen," said Ali Mohammed, a Pakistani businessman in his 30s.
| "I mean, these people are nowhere near as mindlessly violent as the folks back in Karachi. Of course, most of them aren't Muslims, either. Guess that could have something to do with it." |
Talat, 37, a Pakistani worker at an aluminum-goods manufacturers agreed. "I feel bad about what happened to Korea. But nothing threatening has happened to us people during my one year here. Seoul’s quite a safe place," he said.
| "Nothing like what you'd find in a Muslim country. I dunno what's why that is..." |
Near the mosque is Itaewon, an area frequently visited by the U.S. forces in Korea and foreign residents. Asked about the death of Kim Sun-il, two female soldiers refused to comment. "We are not allowed to mention anything about this in" one of them said and hurried on her way to carry on shopping. |