Summary Islam prohibits the consumption of pork as the flesh of pigs is regarded as unclean.
YOKOHAMA (Web Desk) – A 48-year-old Muslim man from Pakistan went on a hunger strike nearly two weeks ago after he was served pork at the immigration facility in Tokyo’s Yokohama city, reported The Asahi Shimbun.
The man began his hunger strike on August 4 as an act of protest. He is being held at the facility and is awaiting deportation.
According to immigration officials and the man’s supporters, he ate a stewed “hijiki” seaweed dish that contained 5-millimeter-square pieces of processed ham on August 3.
The policy of immigration office prohibits serving pork to Muslims but the error occurred as the catering contractor and immigration officials failed to notice the ingredient.
The incident was reported on August 17 during an interview with officials at the Yokohama District Immigration Office, a branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
Islam prohibits the consumption of pork as the flesh of pigs is regarded as unclean.
This is not the first incident of its kind. In August 2015, it served bacon to another Muslim man, and apologized for the error.
According to a supporter who visited the man in custody on August 17, he has only taken water and honey since he began the protest, but was well enough to chat.
An official at the Yokohama District Immigration Office in charge of the case said, “We are going to implement strict checking measures before providing meals to prevent a recurrence.”
