THE EMERGENCE AND THE DEFINING OF MOSQUES: A CASE STUDY OF THE ANTI-MOSQUE INCIDENTS IN PHU PHIANG DISTRICT OF NAN PROVINCE AND WIANG PA PAO DISTRICT OF CHIANG RAI PROVINCE

Abstract

Mosques have been regarded as religious places for Muslims and they have been centers of religious practices and various activities of Muslims. However, there were activities against the construction of mosques in the North and the Northeast areas of Thailand. This study aimed to seek for emergence of mosques in view of protestors through the study of concepts and case studies of emergence and defining of mosques in European countries by comparing with defining of mosques from local people in Phu Phiang District of Nan Province and Wiang Pa Pao District of Chiang Rai Province. It was found that emergence of mosques in various areas in Europe had different meanings. Those differences might result from political views, ethnography, information from outside area and defining from Muslims themselves; whereas, mosques in Phu Phiang District of Nan Province and Wiang Pa Pao District of Chiang Rai Province were defined for purpose of Muslim gathering in non-Muslim areas and an expansion of Islam.