In 2014, after years of exclusion, protests, and legal pressure, something historic happened at Kobe Mosque.
Under the supervision of the Kobe District Court, the mosque leadership — Zia, Yousuf, and Subhi — signed an official reconciliation agreement with Brother Jamal Garaf. This was not a private backroom deal. It was a formal, court-approved settlement witnessed by a judge.
Even more importantly:
Brother Zia himself sent this agreement to the Muslim community by email using the official mosque address: kobemosque@gmail.com.
This wasn’t just a legal obligation. It was an open admission by the mosque leadership that change was necessary, and that the community had the right to know.
What Did the Court Agreement Include?
The court settlement document (和解調書) outlined the following terms:
1. Formation of a General Assembly Based on Clear Criteria
The mosque board agreed to form a n
ew General Assembly (Sōkai), and membership would be based on four strict conditions:
Must have lived in Hyogo Prefecture for over 3 consecutive years, proven by a valid residence card (Jūminhyō)
Must be male, 23 years or older, and not a student
Must have attended Kobe Mosque regularly for more than 3 years
All conditions would be verified by the Imam and both parties’ lawyers
2. Recognition of Brother Jamal’s Membership
The board f
ormally recognized that Brother Jamal met all the above requirements, making him a full and legitimate member of the mosque’s General Assembly.
3. Organizing New Elections
Both parties agreed to:
Create a clear and fair election system
Aim to hold elections for a new board before April 30, 2014
4. Temporary Status of the Current Board
Until elections were completed, the current board (Zia and Yousuf’s group) would be allowed to act o
nly as temporary administrators.
5. Restoration of Jamal’s Right to Enter the Mosque
Brother Jamal was granted:
Full access to the mosque
- The right to perform prayers
- The right to participate in election-related discussions
- However, he was not permitted to:
Make public speeches
- Distribute flyers
- Take photos or post anything inside the mosque
- 6. Conditions of Access
If Brother Jamal violated any of the conditions above, the temporary board would have the legal right to b
an him again from entering the mosque.
7. Withdrawal of the Court Case
Brother Jamal agreed to w
ithdraw his lawsuit, and the mosque leadership agreed to all settlement terms.
8. Obligation to Inform Worshippers
The court r
equired the mosque to explain the full contents of this agreement to all worshippers. This obligation was fulfilled — the official document was emailed to the community by Brother Zia himself.
Why Was This Agreement So Important?
Because it was a le
gally binding and publicly acknowledged reset.
The mosque’s leadership:
Admitted that they were not elected
- Accepted that a General Assembly must be formed
- Committed to holding elections
- Restored access and rights to a previously excluded community member
- This was one of the most significant moments in the history of Kobe Mosque. For the first time, there was real potential for democratic reform and transparency.
This agreement wasn’t just a court formality.
It was a rare moment when the administration officially recognized that the mosque belongs to all Muslims — not just a few men in charge.
But one question remains:
Did they keep their promise?
Were elections actually held?
Or was this agreement simply ignored?
The answer lies in the next part of the story.