The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will not arrange any mobile prayer room for Muslim tourists at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung due to strong opposition from anti-Muslim campaigners, according to the statements of the city’s tourism department’s chief given to Al Jazeera. Earlier, the KTO had decided to set up a mobile prayer room to increase the number of Muslim tourists and to promote a “Muslim-friendly Korea” during the Olympics which started on Friday. The plan for two container-style prayer rooms has been halted after South Korea’s anti-Muslim group drew over 56,000 signatures opposing the idea, reports The Korea Times. One of the association’s executives said based on how Muslims have been influential in European countries, it could be the same in South Korea. Muslim families visiting South Korea for Olympics warned that the decision of letting go off the initiation of prayer room would lead to greater danger in future.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 10, 2018 09:45 UTC