Issues with immigration

Sir — There were two articles (Sunday Independent, February 26) dealing with Islam and immigrants.

The first was a report on a poll taken to determine the attitude of Irish people to immigrants. In this report, Dr Ali Selim, a senior member of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, is quoted as saying “huge efforts were made to make Ireland a more inclusive place for Muslims living here”.

I would like to learn what these efforts entail and why and by whom are they being made and why they are deemed necessary. It would be reassuring to learn that perhaps all immigrants are being educated on how to lawfully adapt to Irish society with all its mores and morals. Some years ago, Dr Selim issued a statement suggesting that school uniforms should no longer display a crucifix as this symbol made Muslim students uncomfortable. Whatever happened to the idea “when in Rome”, etc?

As Dr Selim appears to welcome these huge efforts, it’s reasonable to assume that they include the further removal of all Christian symbols such as happened to cribs and crucifixes in public hospitals and the redesign of the Angelus on RTE.

Dr Selim’s previous assurances that Ireland is not under any threat from Islamic terrorism are in complete contrast to those of Imam Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri, a guest of Gay Byrne on The Meaning of Life programme, who has personal experience of talking to several young Irishborn Muslim men who expressed support of Isil and a hatred of all European countries.

A reading of the Fraser Nelson article on Islam in the same issue of the Sunday Independent outlines the enormous problems both Sweden and Holland have with immigrants and Muslims.

There is a lesson there for our country. G Field, Dublin