Community group says mosque should not be 'price' in ICCI row
A new Muslim community group has called for dialogue between parties involved in a dispute that has seen the closure of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland and its mosque in Clonskeagh.
"We are not officials, we are simply fathers, mothers, students, teachers, ordinary citizens, people carrying an extraordinary concern," spokesperson for the new 'Muslim Community Ireland' group Abdul Hasseb said at the group's first press conference.
The group describes itself as a grassroots group which came into being in response to the recent closure of the Islamic Cultural Centre and its mosque.
The mosque remained closed for Friday prayer, for a second week in a row, with no prospect of it re-opening in sight.
The mosque and the wider centre's closure followed fractious scenes at and outside a meeting at the ICCI on 19 April.
In a statement the ICCI said that it was closed "as a preventive measure to ensure the safety and security of the property, staff, children and members of the public".
The Muslim National School and creche were able to re-open on Monday under tight security and with curtailed access for parents to the site.
However the mosque and other parts of the centre, including two independent businesses, a restaurant and a grocery shop, remain closed.
"We understand that institutions face challenges, but we ask humbly and urgently that the mosque itself not be the price," Mr Hasseb told the media outside the locked gates of the ICCI.
"We respectfully call on all stakeholders, including the respected leadership of Al Maktoum Foundation (the centre's funders) and the ICCI management to engage in open, transparent dialogue," Mr Hasseb said.
"As members of the community we are ready to engage and work to alleviate any concerns about security and safety," he added.
"Our plea is simple: open the mosque for the five daily prayers, for Friday prayers, and for Eid. Allow the House of Allah to serve His worshippers, while other matters are dealt with separately with due care and process."
Dr Zahid Jamil, a member of the ICCI Board of Directors, who also attended the meeting on 19 April, welcomed the community group's initiative saying that he was "very grateful to people who were concerned about this".
Dr Jamil said that the board had a "multitude of concerns" but "the most serious are the security concerns".
He said that "nothing had changed" in relation to the security concerns which had led to the ongoing closure of the mosque.
He added that those who wanted to help "need to have a plan on how they wish to solve those problems."
The Muslim Community Ireland press conference heard from a number of speakers about the impact the closure had on their lives.
Father of three, Saif Uz Zaman, gave an emotional account of how his wife had died just two months ago.
He told the press conference that he and his wife had moved their home close to the ICCI eight years ago and his wife took their children there "several times a day".
Since she died, he said he continued to go there every day with his children, until it closed.
"Even my four-year-old, she choose a place where my wife used to pray, now she is asking to me, 'Baba I want to go to that place, I want to pray in that place, so I have no answer for her,'" Mr Uz Zaman said.
Speakers also raised concern about the impact the closure is having on the livelihoods of those running businesses on the site.
The Olive Tree Restaurant and a grocery store both have a number of employees and have been shuttered since the centre closed.
Lorraine O'Connor, the founder of Muslim Sisters of Éire, and who is also married to group spokesperson Adbul Hasseb, told the press conference that the restaurant's closure is also impacting the charity's weekly soup kitchen, which provides food to around 400 people.
Ms O'Connor said the restaurant owner had consistently supplied the charity with up to 80 meals a week, but that last week, the centre's closure meant that this could not happen.
Ms O'Connor said that this was "not a small set-back".
"It's the first time ever we had to turn so many people away, normally we can manage a shortfall of five to ten meals but this was simply overwhelming" Ms O'Connor said, later confirming that 47 people had gone without food that night.
"That was the detrimental effect of what happened here, now this week we are a bit more prepared but we are still down 80 meals," Ms O'Connor said.
Due to an ongoing dispute with the board of directors of the ICCI, the Quranic School no longer operates at the site on evenings and weekends.
The press conference heard that other services provided in the centre have separately been effected by the centre's closure.
"Every Wednesday we have learning circles called a Halaqah, a couple of us gather together and we remind ourselves about the goodness that we need to do to prevent evil in the world and stuff like that," Sabina Syed told RTÉ News.
"Its a space for us to get together and just to talk and just to get that stress out of our heads so that we can go back and give better to our families," she said, "that's been taken away".
Even though the national school has re-opened, she said that the centre's closure and ongoing restrictions are still proving challenging for parents and children.
"I think I'm the only parent who has an exemption of going into the school (rather than dropping the child at the gate) because I have a child with special needs," Mrs Syed said.
"The school and the staff are doing an amazing job in keeping the school open and maintaining a regular routine for the kids... but obviously the kids are confused, especially the older ones because they used to go to the mosque to pray and now they have to pray in the school hall so it is just having an effect on everybody's mental health," Mr Syed said.
Her daughter and third year student at the Royal College of Surgeons, Hafsah Syed, is a youth leader at the Islamic Cultural Centre.
She told the press conference that "the recent temporary closure of our centre has left a painful gap in our lives, not just as Muslims, but as young people searching for belonging, guidance and community".
She told RTÉ News that she used to work with two youth groups of girls, the seniors who are 12 and over and the juniors who are aged seven and up.
"We have a youth club every Saturday which is really nice, we play games, we talk about Islam, we talk about school, just a safe space for the youth that come to ICCI," Ms Syed said, but that this had now stopped.
"I meet some of the girls out shopping or whatever and they really express how upset they are that it is closed, and you know it wasn't just a place to learn, it was a place to connect with their peers ... they've lost that place."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Muslim cleric says Eid in Croke Park is not ‘disrespectful to Bloody Sunday martyrs'
'These people that believe that we're undermining Christian or Irish values, they obviously have no clue' The chairperson of the Irish Muslim Council in Ireland has defended the celebration of Eid al-Adha in Croke Park. Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri was speaking after protestors gathered outside the Dublin sporting ground earlier this month as attendees arrived. More than 700 members of the Muslim community took part in the June 6 celebration of the feast of the sacrifice, regarded as the holiest festival in the Muslim calendar. As the call to prayer began inside, a woman stood up holding rosary beads and began to recite the Hail Mary, RTE reported. She shouted "shame" as she was escorted away by security. There was no reaction from members of the Muslim community in attendance, which included children. Dr Al-Quadri said the tactics were "not nice or respectable" as he pointed out the doors of mosques are open for Irish people to visit. Croke Park News in 90 Seconds - June 19th He has now posted a defence of the event in an online post where he argued that it is not 'disrespectful to the martyrs of Bloody Sunday'. 'Some people wonder why Muslims celebrate Eid in Croke Park,' he began. 'This is a genuine question (asked) out of sincerity, and there is no other bias or reason. 'Then there are also people that have the same question but they will add to that. 'Muslims disrespected Croke Park, and undermined Christian and Irish nationalist values by celebrating Eid in Croke Park. 'First of all, this did not happen for the first time, this was the sixth time that the Muslim community in Ireland celebrated the Eid prayers in Croke Park. 'Croke Park holds a significant place in the hearts of millions of Irish people and this is because of the tragedy that unfolded (there) more than 100 years ago.' Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri posts his message Dr Al-Qadri relates the events of Bloody Sunday when 'British troops indiscriminately started shooting at the innocent spectators and the sportsman'. 'One of the very famous Irish sportsmen Michael Hogan also was one of the victims of this slaughter, so no wonder Croke Park holds a significant place and is sacred place in the hearts of millions of Irish people. 'And we, as Muslims understand that, we honour that and we respect that immensely, but it is important for you to understand that Croke Park, the venue, has been used for various different events. 'It has been used to accommodate musical events, it has been accommodating commercial events, it has also opened its doors for other faith communities. 'So, (to) these people that say the celebration of Eid in Croke Park undermines Christian value, I ask, when did they object to commercial events? When did they object to the musical events. When did they object to the events that take place in Croke Park that go against the Christian teachings? 'Did they ever object, did they ever protest? They did not. And the reason is not because these people want to defend Christian values. 'Most of these people do not even agree with the Christian faith leaders. Most of these people consider the Christian faith leaders, including the Pope, as traitors. 'Most of these people do not even attend Sunday Mass, most haven't studied the Christian faith (or) the Bible. 'Did they know that at many Eid events in Croke Park previously we have had as main guests the archbishops of the Catholic Church as well as of the Church of Ireland? 'If the Eid in Croke Park in any way undermines Christian values, why did the faith leaders attend? 'This is not just an event for Muslims in fact, as the organiser, I have always invited people of various different backgrounds. 'As I mentioned the archbishops have always been there, other faith leaders have attended including Rabbi Zalman Lent of the Jewish community. 'We also invited political leaders, and politicians have attended. We've had our very own president, the honourable Michael D Higgins send out an Eid message to the Muslim community. 'So, these people that believe that we're undermining Christian or Irish values, they obviously have no clue.' Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri also extended an invitation to anybody that is genuinely interested in dialogue or in understanding the Muslim faith and community 'and wants to build bridges to reach out to me and meet up'.
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Increase of settlements in the West Bank 'so blatantly in breach of international law that it requires refutation", says President Michael D Higgins
The Assembly is expected to vote today on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the opening of all Israeli border crossings for deliveries of desperately needed food and other aid. Last week, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid, despite the 14 other members of the council voting in favour. There are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly, where the resolution is expected to pass overwhelmingly, but it is not legally binding. Mr Higgins said there is a call for political leaders 'to come forward with emergency proposals' to allow those in Gaza access to 'desperately' needed water, medicines and food given the urgency of the humanitarian situation 'both in terms of the risks attached to accessing food and the growing number entering the critical category of death from malnutrition'. In a statement issued this evening, he said: "This is a major moral moment for the international community. I welcome that Ireland is a co-sponsor of the draft resolution being presented at today's resumed tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace initiative.' 'The draft resolution calls for action from members of the United Nations, stating that the General Assembly: 'Stresses the need for accountability in order to ensure Israel's respect of international law obligations, and in this regard calls upon all member states to individually and collectively take all measures necessary, in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, to ensure compliance by Israel with its obligations.'' He added: 'Given recent suggestions that a Palestinian State would have to be carved out of a Muslim state, it is necessary surely for all members of the European Union and of the international community to declare where they stand in relation to such a significant change in policy.' Mr Higgins said the announced increase in settlements in the West Bank is 'consistent with a policy of dispossession, but is so blatantly in breach of international law that it requires a refutation'. 'Today's meeting of the General Assembly, and associated measures, are of immense importance given the human consequences of inaction.' The draft resolution will be co-sponsored by Spain, Chile, Egypt, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Norway, Qatar, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkiye and the State of Palestine.
The Journal
12-06-2025
- The Journal
Palestinian state should be established in 'a Muslim country', US ambassador Mike Huckabee says
THE US AMBASSADOR to Israel has said that any Palestinian state should be established in 'a Muslim country' as he rejected the notion of US support for a two-state solution. Mike Huckabee, a former Fox News host and ex-governor of Arkansas who ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, was speaking ahead of a UN conference in New York next week. The conference will be co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia and will focus on a framework for establishing Palestinian statehood as part of a two-state solution. Huckabee appeared to confirm a US foreign policy reversal with regard to support for a two-state solution in an interview with Bloomberg News . In response to a question about whether a two-state solution remained a goal of the White House, Huckabee replied: 'I don't think so.' He went on to say that if Palestine was to set up its own state, it could do so in 'a Muslim country' outside of Israel's modern borders, despite Palestine having previously existed on the land of modern Israel before the declaration of the state of Israel in 1948. Advertisement In a separate interview with the BBC , Huckabee said: 'Muslim countries have 644 times the amount of land that are controlled by Israel. So maybe, if there is such a desire for the Palestinian state, there would be someone who would say, we'd like to host it.' The two-state solution, traditionally backed by most UN member states including the US, proposes resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two states for two peoples – Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinians. 'Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there's no room for it,' Huckabee said, claiming these probably won't happen 'in our lifetime'. French President Emmanuel Macron had hinted at recognising Palestine while at next week's conference, an action that Huckabee reacted angrily to. He said that if Macron supported such an outcome, he could 'carve out a piece of the French Riviera' and create a state for Palestine there. The US has been steadfast in its opposition to the conference, threatening countries who take part in any 'anti-Israel actions' via a formal statement issued on Tuesday. 'The United States opposes any steps that would unilaterally recognise a conjectural Palestinian state, which adds significant legal and political obstacles to the eventual resolution of the conflict and could coerce Israel during a war, thereby supporting its enemies,' it said. It added: 'Unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state would effectively render Oct. 7 Palestinian Independence Day.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
