Indonesian Fishermen Set Up Mosque in Taiwan
There are an estimated 1,300 Indonesian workers in Yilan. Most are Muslims and fishermen who work at Nanfang-ao fishing port.
In 2014, a few Indonesian fishermen started looking for a place to establish a mosque so they could practice their faith. Islam requires Muslims to pray five times a day.
The old building started off with some leaks in the roof, but with the workers’ excellent craftsmanship, they were able to refurbish the building into a brightly painted religious center, known as Masjid Baitul, with ablution facilities and a prayer hall.
Arya, one of the fishermen, said Muslims have to say prayers five times a day. When they are not at sea, they would pray at the mosque. Those who can read help read the Quran aloud during worship.
The mosque also serves as a meeting place for Indonesian fishermen, somewhere they can gather and catch up with each other. Everyone helps to keep the mosque tidy voluntarily, they said.
Source: The Asia Times
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