Controversy Erupts Over Proposed Mosque in South Korea

Muslim students at Kyungpook National University in South Korea face opposition from local residents over the construction of a mosque, with some residents displaying pig heads and hosting pork barbecues near the site. The Muslim community had received permission from the local district office to construct the mosque, but residents filed a petition claiming it would turn their neighborhood into a "slum." The Supreme Court eventually allowed the mosque project to go forward, but residents continued to protest and spread false and offensive messages about Muslims. South Korea lacks a law against hate speech, and attempts to legislate a comprehensive law that prohibits discrimination have been unsuccessful due to opposition led by conservative Protestant churches.