An Indian firm in Taipei is embroiled in a court battle with the residents of an apartment building who accuse the company of operating a religious shrine in the building and demand that the shrine be removed, reports said yesterday.
The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper), said the firm bought an apartment on the top floor of a 20-story building on Dunhua S Road to install a Jain temple.
The temple attracts Indian residents of Taipei, who pray at the shrine, disturbing the building’s residents, the paper said.
The building’s visitor registry indicated that on Sunday, 16 people visited the shrine, cable TV channel ETTV said.
“Once a year there is a big celebration, when some 100 Indians visit the shrine to pray,” the channel said.
In January, the management committee of the building asked the firm to move out, saying that religious activities are not allowed inside residential buildings.
When the company refused, the committee filed a lawsuit at Taipei District Court to evict the firm.
The firm said it was not maintaining a shrine in the building, and further argued that some families in the building have Buddhist or Taoist shrines in their homes.
It said it bought the apartment to house company employees on business trips to Taiwan.
“We have been trying to settle this peacefully with the residents, but have not succeeded yet,” said Wang Ho-ping (王和屏), the lawyer for the company.
The law protects religious freedom, but requires that religious organizations register with the Ministry of the Interior.
However, legislation governing the management of apartment buildings stipulates that residents should not disturb the peace or adversely affect safety and hygiene in an apartment building.
Approximately 2,000 Indian expatriates, mostly businesspeople and their families, live in Taiwan.
Jainism is an ancient religion that prescribes non-violence and the development of spirituality through reliance on one’s own wisdom and self-discipline.
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