Police reject claims linking Muslims to fires at temples and brewery in Japan
Authorities say there is no evidence connecting foreigners or Muslims to a string of fires that have sparked viral online speculation
TOKYO, Japan (MNTV) — Groundless rumours that Muslims are responsible for a spate of fires at temples, shrines, and a brewery across Japan have spread rapidly on social media, despite police and firefighting authorities denying any truth to the allegations, reports The Japan News.
On June 1, a home within the grounds of Senjuji temple in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, was destroyed in a fire. Baseless rumours about the blaze quickly appeared on the social media platform X. “The culprit was an immigrant or a Muslim,” read one post, while another claimed, “Temples are burning and mosques are increasing.” One such post was viewed 670,000 times.
According to the Kameoka Police Station, a man who lived in the dwelling had been burning weeds nearby. “At the present time, we don’t have any information that would suggest this was arson committed by a non-Japanese person or a third party,” a senior official said.
Posts about fires that have damaged at least 10 temples and shrines — including Senjuji, Suga Jinja shrine in Kitakyushu, and a temple in Toyama City — have spread widely on X since January. Shortly after a fire razed a hall housing an “eternal flame” at Daishoin temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, on May 20, a message asking whether the frequency of fires at temples and shrines was suspicious was reposted 37,000 times and viewed 5.38 million times. Replies included comments such as, “I call the police whenever I see a Muslim,” and “That’s why we mustn’t let Islam into Japan.”
Although the causes of all fires have not been publicly announced, officials stated that for eight of the 10 cases, “at the very least, this was not arson committed by a non-Japanese person.”
Brewery fire also exploited
Groundless rumours have also surrounded a brewery fire. On June 1, a blaze destroyed a storehouse and equipment at the Sasamasamune brewery in Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture. A post the following day insinuated that Muslims — who are prohibited from consuming alcohol — could have been involved. It was reposted 20,000 times and viewed 3.75 million times.
A senior official at the local police station dismissed the claim. “We haven’t confirmed any information that would suggest this was arson. It’s factually incorrect that any specific non-Japanese person or religion is under suspicion,” the official said.
Hiroaki Suzuki, head of Bell Associates, a fire investigation company in Ibaraki Prefecture, noted that fires can start in many ways. “Dust can build up in a power outlet and cause a short-circuit. Just because there was no obvious fire source, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was arson,” he said.
Seikei University professor Masaaki Ito, an expert on media sociology, said: “It’s easy to make people feel worried or angry by framing this as foreigners destroying Japanese tradition and local culture, an issue familiar to everyone. Muslims, who have been the subject of online discussions about burials and building mosques, are being targeted by these rumours.”
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
