Mosque opened by Pakistani ambassador lands in legal trouble in Japan

Municipal authorities in Kawagoe City have ordered the removal of the mosque, stating that it was constructed on restricted land without obtaining the necessary permits.

The mosque was inaugurated on April 3 in a ceremony attended by Pakistan's Ambassador to Japan, Abdul Hameed.

According to Kawagoe City's Development Guidance Division, the mosque was built in an "Urbanization Control Area" — a zone where development and construction activities are strictly regulated under Japan's City Planning Act, Tokyo Reporter reported.

Authorities said the builders neither applied for nor obtained approval before commencing construction.

The issue came to light after local residents complained about the project. When officials visited the site, they found that construction of the mosque's exterior was already underway.

Despite repeated warnings from municipal authorities to halt construction, work reportedly continued.

"Initially, the situation continued where the workers would just tell us, 'Nihongo wakaranai' (I don't understand Japanese)," a city official told Tokyo Reporter.

"Our staff went to the site numerous times to explicitly tell them that building there was prohibited," the official added.

According to the report, ownership of the land was transferred in March from a Fujimi City-based real estate agency to a company headed by a Pakistani national. The company's registered headquarters is listed at the same location as the mosque.

Following reports that the mosque had been built illegally, the Pakistani Embassy in Japan distanced itself from the project and stressed the importance of complying with Japanese laws.

The embassy urged members of the Pakistani community in Japan to strictly follow local regulations, particularly concerning the construction of places of worship.

"The Embassy of Pakistan earnestly requests and emphasises to the Pakistani community residing in Japan that they fully comply with Japanese laws in all matters, particularly with regard to the construction of places of worship. No construction project may be initiated without obtaining the necessary permits from local governments," the embassy posted on X on June 1, according to India Today.

In a separate statement cited by India Today, the embassy said: "The Embassy of Pakistan has no connection to any such projects, especially those that do not comply with the laws of local governments. This includes the event held in Kawagoe on April 3, 2026, for which the Ambassador of Pakistan accepted the invitation on the basis of information that all required permits in accordance with Japanese law had been obtained."