Irish Muslims condemn actions of Islamic State

The Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland (ICCI), based in Dublin’s Clonskeagh, has strongly condemned Islamic State (IS), which , it says, is acting contrary to the teachings of Islam.

In a statement it states that “in full conformity with Islamic teachings” it “vehemently abhors and deplores terrorism of all kinds regardless of the perpetrators’ race and faith.”

The statement comes a day after s the Islamic State posted a video showing the American journalist James Foley being beheaded.

The cultural centre points out that “murder, the most horrendous act of terrorism, is strictly forbidden in Islam” and that “Allah states that the murder of one person is as evil as killing all people. In the Qur’an it is stated: “whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done)in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”

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Irish jihadi fighters – police investigate group using Ireland as base

As Britain scrambles to assess its counter-terrorism security following the horrific beheading of Irish American journalist James Foley by an ISIS militant with a British accent, Ireland is also weighing the threat homegrown jihadists may pose.

Irish authorities confirmed yesterday that they are closely watching the movements of nearly 30 Irish Muslims who have been traveling from Ireland to Iraq and other conflict zones in recent months.

Three of those who were under surveillance are believed to have been killed, including a 16-year-old boy.

The remainder are also being monitored by international security agencies, the Irish Independent reports, as suspicions emerge that potential jihadists with Irish papers have been using Ireland as a base between tours of fighting in the Middle East.

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Irish Judge Claims that Islam Allows Men to Beat Wives

Judge Anthony Halpin

Source: Irish Times

A judge has caused outrage after saying he thinks “Muslims feel they can actually beat their wives” during the trial of a Somali man accused of burglary at his former wife’s house.

Judge Anthony Halpin’s comments made before a packed courtroom yesterday caused a government minister and the Immigrant Council of Ireland to say he needs to immediately clarify or withdraw the remark made during a criminal case.

The judge made the statement just days after telling Tallaght Court he was to be reassigned elsewhere, saying he “may have stepped on some toes”.

Leading Muslim cleric, Dr Taufiq Al Sattar – who lost his wife and three children in a house fire in the UK last year – rejected the judge’s comments.

Junior minister Joe Costello said “on the surface it sounds insulting and gratuitous and he should immediately clarify the remarks”.

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New Imam Sought for Cork Muslim Community

Source: Irish Examiner

A rapidly expanding community of Muslims wants to hire a new imam, or spiritual leader.

The highly specialised job, which has been advertised by the Cork Muslim Society, comes with a €2,500 monthly salary and an immediate start date. The position is open to men only.

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How Muslims Helped Ireland During the Great Famine

By Mehedi Islam

Source: http://archiveislam.com

160 years ago, during the Great Famine in Ireland, the Ottoman Empire sent £1,000 sterling (about $1,052,000 today) and 3 shiploads of food to Drogheda, Ireland.

Ireland was ridden with famine and disease between 1845 and 1849. Also known as the Great Hunger, this famine had lasting effects: at least one million people died due to famine-related diseases and more than one million Irish fled, mainly to the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.

The Islamic State (Ottoman) ruler at that time Sultan Khaleefah Abdul-Majid declared his intention to send £10,000 sterling to Irish farmers but Queen Victoria requested that the Sultan send only £1,000 sterling, because she had sent only £2,000 sterling herself. The Sultan sent the £1,000 sterling but also secretly sent 3 ships full of food. The British administration tried to block the ships, but the food arrived secretly at Drogheda harbour.

This generous charity from a Muslim ruler to a Christian nation is also important, particularly in our time when Muslims are often unfairly accused of human rights violations. Likewise, the appreciative plaque and overall reaction of the Irish society in return for this charity deserves to be applauded. We hope that the Turkish-Irish friendship sets a model for peace among different nations.

In commemoration of the Ottoman aid, Drogheda added the Ottoman crescent and star to its coat of arms. Their football club’s emblem retains this design until this day.

Islam to become Ireland’s second religion by 2043

Source: Irish Independent

The revelation came as construction work is expected to begin next year on Ireland’s largest mosque.

The Clongriffin centre, on Dublin’s northside, will be the largest Islamic religious complex in the State and will also boast a major cultural centre.

An Bord Pleanala earlier this year granted planning permission for the three-storey complex, which is earmarked for a six-acre site owned by developer Gerry Gannon.

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Irish Muslims targeted in ‘hate mail’ campaign

Source: Irish Independent

A “hate campaign” against the Muslim community in Ireland is being investigated by gardai.

It has emerged that mosques and schools have received anonymous letters containing violent threats against Muslims living here.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter condemned the hate mail and revealed he had brought the matter to the attention of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan for appropriate action.

“I utterly condemn racism and religious bigotry in all of their forms and am appalled by the nature of these communications. Religious intolerance has no place in our society. Incitement to hatred and incitement to violence are offences under our laws,” Mr Shatter said.

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New Islamic Cultural Centre opens in Cork city

Source: Ahlul Bayt News Agency

The centre was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Catherine Clancy. An open day followed which enabled locals to tour the centre and learn more about its work.

Dr Radwan, who is a consultant anaesthetist at the Bon Secours Hospital, said he is hopeful “misconceptions” about the centre will be cleared up in the coming weeks.

“We are part of the community in the Shandon area and we are trying to prove to locals that there is no issue here. The central location is very important for us as it covers the needs of Muslim students who will come here for information. Irish schools can visit and we will give them tours. The opening went very well and we look forward to a long relationship with the people of Shandon Street.”

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Dispute over Cork city Islamic centre

Source: Irish Examiner

By Eoin English

A spokesman for Cork City Council’s planning department confirmed last night that senior planning officers have conducted site visits to the Cork Dawah Centre at 72-73 Shandon St on foot of several complaints from local residents and local public representatives about how it is being run.

The spokesman said planners have opened an enforcement file and formed the opinion that the centre is operating in breach of two key conditions attached to the granting of planning permission for the centre in July.

The centre’s owner has now been given four weeks to comply with the conditions before further enforcement action is considered.

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2 Muslim women ordered to stop praying in Dublin park

Source: Irish Examiner

One of the women, whose first name is Sajida, said they felt threatened and humiliated when the driver of a security van drew up and shouted that there was “no praying in the park” as they knelt in Griffith Park, Drumcondra, for one of the five daily calls to prayer that Muslims must observe.

Sajida, who moved to Ireland from Britain 17 years ago, said the women had “never experienced anything like it before”.

Sajida said she and her friend had picked a quiet spot but had barely begun praying when she heard a loud honking.

A Manguard Plus van — Manguard is contracted by Dublin City Council to provide an out-of-hours park warden service — drew up a few metres away and, Sajida claims, the driver shouted at them there was no praying in the park.

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