Can We Coexist with Muslims? The Issue Is Not Religion, but Whether Religion or Society Comes First

The other day, I watched a YouTube video in which a man from Egypt talked about prejudice against Islam.

What I found interesting was his frustration with people criticizing all Muslims as though they were the same.

He said that even among Muslims, views differ enormously from one country or region to another.

For example, the relationship between religion and society is very different in Egypt and Turkey from what it is in some parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The video explained that strict religious views, especially when intertwined with the customs of tribal societies, have contributed to a negative image of Islam as a whole.

Turkey, for example, is known for being friendly toward Japan. Japanese people have no reason to dislike Turkish people simply because they are Muslim.

In other words, perhaps Islam itself is not the problem.

Muslims Are Not All the Same

When people think of Muslims, they often picture people who do not eat pork, do not drink alcohol, and strictly observe religious rules.

In reality, however, some are quite relaxed about them.

There are even people who arrive in Japan and immediately say, “Pork? No problem. Alcohol? Sure, I drink.”

Perhaps the tonkatsu—a breaded pork cutlet—and beer in front of them are more appealing than religious rules.

People like that are unlikely to experience much friction with Japanese society.

On the other hand, some people try to make not only themselves but also other people and society as a whole follow religious rules.

This was exactly the distinction the Egyptian man in the video was pointing out.

From the perspective of Muslims as well, it must be frustrating to be treated the same way as strict believers because of those believers’ actions.

Which Comes First: Islam or Secular Society?

I believe the key to understanding this difference is which takes priority: religion or secular society.

Secular society > Islam

With this principle, coexistence is not difficult.

Religion is respected as a matter of personal faith. However, the law of the country and the freedom of others take precedence.

People are free to pray and to avoid pork. Conversely, if they come to Japan and choose to eat pork, that is also their decision.

But the situation changes when the order is reversed.

Islam > secular society

Conflict is unavoidable if someone believes that religious teachings should take precedence over the law and the rights of others.

You are free to observe religious rules yourself, but if you try to force other people to follow them, it can no longer be justified as freedom of religion.

This distinction is decisive.

And this is not limited to Islam. The same problem arises with Christianity, Buddhism, or any other religion when its teachings are imposed on society as a whole.

But Japanese People Cannot Tell the Difference

This brings us to a practical problem.

Japanese people cannot tell which of these views another person holds.

Are they Egyptian, Turkish, or Pakistani? Even if you know their nationality, there is no way to know how much priority that individual gives to religion.

As the Egyptian man in the video said, it is certainly crude to treat all Muslims as a single group.

However, it is also unreasonable to expect Japanese people to understand the complex religious landscape across the Muslim world and accurately assess every individual’s values.

From the Muslim perspective: “Please do not lump us together with extremists.”

From the Japanese perspective: “Even if you say that, we cannot tell who is different from whom, or how.”

I can understand both positions.

Still, I do not think Japanese people need to become experts on Islam to solve this problem.

Why Not Ask People to Sign a Pledge at Immigration?

This may be a somewhat radical proposal, but what if people entering Japan were asked to sign a pledge like this during immigration screening?

“While I am in Japan, I will place Japanese law above religious teachings and will not violate the rights of others in the name of my faith.”

Applying this only to Muslims would amount to religious discrimination, so the same rule should apply to everyone, whether Christian, Buddhist, or anything else.

Anyone who cannot sign should not be admitted.

Some people would undoubtedly argue that this violates freedom of religion.

However, foreign nationals are not constitutionally guaranteed the freedom to enter Japan. Whether to admit them is, in principle, a decision for the Japanese government.

Freedom of religion after entering the country and the conditions for being admitted in the first place are separate issues.

A single signed pledge cannot reveal what someone truly believes. Even so, it would make clear what kind of society Japan is and what it gives priority to.

That would be far easier to understand than closely investigating Islamic denominations or a person’s region of origin.

“You are free to believe whatever you wish. But if you intend to place God’s commands above Japanese law, please do not enter the country.”

You are free to obey God, but that does not mean God guarantees you the freedom to enter Japan.