Muslims urged to stay clear of capital by their faith leaders
MUSLIMS have been advised by the leader of their faith in Ireland to avoid travelling into Dublin over fears for their safety.
Chairperson of the Irish Muslim Council, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-qadri, confirmed he told his community to stay clear of the capital in the aftermath of Thursday’s unrest.
He told RTE’S Saturday with Colm O Mongain he “never could have imagined” that he would have to give this advice in a country where the migrant experience over the last 20 years has been, for the most part, amazing and welcoming.
Dr Umar Al-qadr said: “That is now, slowly, unfortunately, changing.”
He described how after the violence erupted on Thursday night, he received messages from Muslims in Ireland who were concerned about videos circulating with antimigrant rhetoric.
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He said the feeling among his community is if members of the gardai are not safe, “how will we be safe?”
He added: “We advised our community to be very vigilant.
“The mosques usually have weekend schools where children go but we asked them to suspend it this weekend.
“We asked people not to travel to Dublin city, to stay indoors. We asked if they had to travel, not to travel on public transport and don’t travel alone.”
He said the numbers attending Friday prayer in mosques were low and many children did not travel to school, particularly those who had to take public transport.
Dr Umar Al-qadri said this had prompted a meeting online with members of the Muslim community to discuss concerns around safety.
He said the Muslim community understands people in Ireland are upset but said “we are all affected by the migrant crisis”.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik also told the programme: “It is appalling to hear that about our own capital city, that people feel so unsafe.”