Kotani Hitomu, Tamura Mari, Nejima Susumu
Department of Urban Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Department of International Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.
Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022 Feb 1;69:102702. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102702. Epub 2021 Nov 27.
Religious activities tend to be conducted in enclosed, crowded, and close-contact settings, which have a high potential of transmitting the coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19); therefore, religious communities are expected to take appropriate infection prevention measures. Meanwhile, during past disasters, religious communities have provided various types of support to affected people; hence, their role in disaster risk reduction has received much attention. In this study, we aimed to identify the infection prevention measures and support provision implemented by mosques-Islamic institutions managed and operated mainly by foreign Muslims living in Japan-during the one year from January 2020. We collected information from newspaper articles (18 articles on 19 mosques) and interviews with representatives of three mosques. We found that various infection control measures were implemented in mosques-refraining from mass prayers and closing buildings from an early stage (around February 2020); canceling large-scale events during the month of Ramadan; moving some activities online; and ensuring indoor ventilation and safe physical distance even when continuing face-to-face prayer activities. We also found that various types of support were provided by mosques-donating masks to the local government; listening to problems of people affected by COVID-19 regardless of their nationality; providing financial support to them; translating and disseminating information to foreign Muslims; and providing religious meals for them. This study provides actual examples of infection prevention measures taken by mosques in a Muslim-minority society and suggests that mosques appropriately responded to the needs of religious minorities during disasters, including COVID-19.
宗教活动往往在封闭、拥挤且近距离接触的环境中进行，这具有很高的传播2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的可能性；因此，宗教团体应采取适当的感染预防措施。与此同时，在过去的灾难中，宗教团体为受灾群众提供了各种支持；因此，它们在减少灾害风险方面的作用受到了广泛关注。在本研究中，我们旨在确定2020年1月起的一年时间里，清真寺（主要由居住在日本的外国穆斯林管理和运营的伊斯兰机构）所采取的感染预防措施和提供的支持。我们从报纸文章（关于19座清真寺的18篇文章）以及对三座清真寺代表的访谈中收集信息。我们发现清真寺实施了各种感染控制措施——避免集体祈祷并从早期（2020年2月左右）起关闭建筑；在斋月期间取消大型活动；将一些活动转移到线上；即使在继续面对面祈祷活动时，也确保室内通风和安全的身体距离。我们还发现清真寺提供了各种支持——向当地政府捐赠口罩；倾听受COVID-19影响的人们的问题，无论其国籍如何；为他们提供经济支持；为外国穆斯林翻译和传播信息；为他们提供宗教餐食。本研究提供了穆斯林少数群体社会中清真寺采取的感染预防措施的实际例子，并表明清真寺在包括COVID-19在内的灾难期间，适当地回应了宗教少数群体的需求。
