Pakistani protest over defiled Koran

Pakistanis gathered in a Tokyo park to protest

Pakistanis living in Japan have been protesting about the desecration of a copy of the Koran, as the community's leaders met Japanese officials to show them the torn pages of the sullied book.

This is the worst crime against our religion

Rais Siddiqu

The Koran had been taken from a meeting place in the port city of Toyama, where local Pakistanis gather to pray.

Community leaders have said that ripped pages from the book had turned up this week near a used car dealership owned by a Pakistani man.

Hundreds of Pakistani Muslims gathered at a park in central Tokyo on Friday, many wearing "Allah is great", chanting slogans and praying. A protest was also held at the city's mosque.

Some 1,000 Muslim protesters chanted slogans outside Tokyo Mosque

A nine-member delegation of Pakistan Association of Japan met with foreign ministry officials and handed over a letter of protest.

"The depth of the Muslim sentiment against the person who has committed such a heinous and barbarous crime of showing disrespect to a holy and sacred book of Muslims should not be underestimated," the delegation's letter said.

"It's such a shame this had to happen," delegation member Rais Siddiqui said, as he held the ripped green and white pages of the book wrapped in cloth in his lap.

"This is the worst crime against our religion."

Toyama police said they have begun an investigation but refused to discuss any details. They are reportedly also investigating allegations that six other Korans have been stolen.

'Catch the culprit'

Foreign ministry officials have condemned the act, adding that Japan supports and respects the free expression of all religions.

The community wants the culprit caught

"We deeply sympathise with your hurt feelings," a senior Japanese diplomat, who met with community leaders, was quoted as saying.

A ministry official said the community had asked the government to "catch and punish the culprit and take measures to prevent such a thing from happening again".

There are about 150 Pakistanis living in Toyama prefecture and 10,000 throughout Japan, according to Pakistani diplomat Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.

Japan has a number of different immigrant communities, who provide cheaper labour for jobs the Japanese no longer want to do.