Rohingya in Ireland grateful for Geldof ‘solidarity’
THE Irish Rohingya community has praised Bob Geldof for the solidarity he has shown them, as the rock star’s dispute with Dublin City Council rumbles on.
Geldof expressed fury about how Sinn Féin dealt with his decision to hand back the honour of the Freedom of Dublin.
Haikal Mansor, an advocate from the Rohingya community in Ireland, told the Irish Independent that while he believes Geldof is still worthy of the Freedom of Dublin, the community does not want to get mixed up in the dispute.
“Both the council and Mr Geldof have shown so much solidarity towards the Rohingya community,” he said.
“Bob Geldof has brought so much attention to the genocide of our people in Burma, which has made a big difference.
“It’s very difficult for the community to answer whether or not the council should give back the Freedom of Dublin.
“We do not want to take sides.”
Protest
Last month, Geldof handed back his freedom scroll in protest at the inclusion of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the honour list.
However, at the time he said the freedom of the city meant a lot to him and he hoped a way could be found to remove Ms Suu Kyi, so that he could remain on the list.
On Wednesday night, the council first voted to remove the Myanmar leader from the list of people with freedom of the city – then voted to also remove Geldof from the list.
Councillor Mannix Flynn, who helped Geldof with the process of returning the honour, said the singer was furious with how the Sinn Féin-dominated council had dealt with the matter.
“The manner in which [Geldof ] was removed from the scroll and the manner in which Sinn Féin tried to demonise him ... in the chamber for taking a stance. It was absolutely appalling,” he said.
Dublin Lord Mayor Mícheál Mac Donncha said the matter was not up to Sinn Féin.