I stand over Sharia Law comments, says FG councillor
Unrepentant politician says his ‘concerns are widespread’
A FINE GAEL politician who suggested Sharia Law is operating in Ireland is standing over his remarks, and has described the reaction to his statements as ‘hysterical’.
In his first interview since posting the comments on social media, south Dublin-based councillor Brian Murphy reiterated his claim that Sharia Law, or Islam’s legal system, was operating in Ireland and criticised other politicians for being ‘too weak’ to defend their own culture.
He claims to have received hundreds of messages in support of his remarks. But the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council has accused Mr Murphy, 25, of scaremongering and inciting hatred.
The controversy erupted following posts by the Carlow-born politician on Twitter. In one he criticises the Irish Navy’s mission in the Mediterranean. He wrote: ‘The Irish military should not be being forced to act as a ferry service for smugglers and illegal economic migrants in the mediterranean.’
In another he claims Sharia Law is subverting our legal system.
Mr Murphy told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘I don’t quite understand why the reaction was so hysterical. I mean [Sharia Law] operates in every single European country now and it subverts the legal system in almost every single European country, and it’s beginning to happen here.
‘Why that’s so controversial, I don’t quite understand. My concerns are widespread concerns among the citizens of this country and they shouldn’t be censored or cast as being outside the Pale, because they’re not – they’re actually very mainstream.’
Mr Murphy said the ‘creep’ of Sharia Law into this country should not come as a surprise to politicians, who he criticised for failing to speak up on the issue.
‘British politicians and politicians here have been too weak to defend their own culture and… the legal systems in their countries, which are the only legal systems by which people should abide,’ he said.
‘The public are probably farther ahead on this issue than the politicians. They probably have more concern than the political class,’ he added.
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor, from Goatstown in south Dublin, must face Fine Gael’s disciplinary committee over his comments, probably next week.
‘The party is perfectly entitled to call anybody it wants into a disciplinary committee, but I don’t believe what I’ve said actually warrants a disciplinary hearing – but I’m very happy to attend,’ he said.
‘I’ll respect any judgment that comes out of it but it would be concerning for me personally if diversity of opinion was not accepted within a mainstream Irish political party – within Fine Gael. I would be saddened if it was no longer possible for a public representative to voice legitimate concerns.’
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration
He’s inciting hatred… and scaremongering
Council said: ‘His comments were shocking because Irish Muslims do not expect an Irish politician to incite hatred and create an atmosphere of scaremongering.
He said he had invited Mr Murphy to meet and discuss his concerns but had not received a response, which led him to believe there ‘is no sincerity behind his agenda’.
He added: ‘Disciplinary action must be taken in my view.’