By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Two Korean Islamic groups involved in a spat over the use of funds gleaned from donated land are at the center of separate claims that they are failing the Muslim community.
The Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), based at Seoul's Central Masjid, and the new Center for the Protection of Muslim Human Rights, located directly outside the Itaewon mosque, have both been accused of neglecting community members.
Individuals representing the center, set up by the Emergency Committee of the Korea Islamic Foundation, launched a protest against the KMF in June to denounce what they claim is the inappropriate use of funds from the sale of land donated by late former President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s.
They lodged a complaint with police in Yongsan over the issue in June, said center manager Hyun Jaiik, and they have since been holding regular demonstrations outside the mosque.
A Yongsan police officer confirmed that complaints had been filed by both sides, and the matter had been passed to the prosecution.
The KMF refused to comment, saying that they want to deal with the matter through the courts.
However, the human rights center has come under a separate barrage of criticism from members of the Muslim community.
Some said they were not even aware it existed, while others claim it is not serving the human rights of Muslims, which was its apparent aim when it started out.
One member said the center was rarely open, despite assurances it would operate daily from 9 a.m. until late at night.
Community member Kazi Nazrul, the managing director of an Itaewon travel agency, claimed those involved in the protests merely want to attain power in the Muslim community.
"They should not demonstrate outside the mosque with a big banner. I don't know who is manipulating and why they took their office here," he said.
"The protest banner is saying that the KMF leader should resign. These are shameful things; this is why I'm thinking they set up a human rights center. Who is their leader? I still don't know. And why did they set up this office? This is a big question for me. I am still trying to find the answer."
"What is the Muslim human rights center doing? I don't know who their leader is, and who is talking on behalf of the Muslim people. What they want is for the KMF people to resign and take power."
However, others say the center has helped Muslims. Yaseen Khan, a waiter at an Itaewon restaurant, said he knew people who had been helped. But he was unable to provide specifics or contact information.
Responding Friday, Hyun said the center is doing what it can to help members of the community, but that it lacks funding.
Though he denied the center only came about to attain power, he admitted their main aim is to bring about change in the KMF.
"It's very simple. The KMF made a mistake, and they must replace the money. The KMF directors want to run away. They never listen.. This is our primary goal. Our second goal.. we want to change the management."
When it opened, the human rights center said its mission was to help foreign Muslims with issues such as work-related grievances and visa troubles.
One staff member claimed at the time that the goal was to prevent Muslims from being the victims of "misdeeds." However, Hyun conceded that the center has helped just five people since first opening its doors.
There are about 130,000 Muslims living here, including 30,000 Koreans.
Korea Times intern JR Breen contributed reporting to this article.