‘We must reach out and learn about each other to prevent a clash of cultures based on ignorance and misinformation,” says Summayan Kenna, an Irish-born Muslim, who officially launched the women’s breakfast on intercultural solidarity in Dublin earlier this month.
Held in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, the event drew more than 70 women, most of whom are Muslims who have settled in this country. The fact that it was held in the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, meant that many of these women felt comfortable to attend, says Daniela Naab, originally from Germany, who works with Women4Women, the group which organised the event.
Naab says sharing different cultural values and experiences is at the heart of the work of this voluntary organisation, which is based in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Co Dublin.
Quietly looking out for each other gives both psychological and social support to migrant women in their new communities. Often, it is equally important to Irish people and other nationalities who are already settled in these areas. “Our aim is to give all women a platform and, ultimately, we would like to have an intercultural venue of our own which could also offer a domestic violence support service which is another strand of our work,” says Naab.
Marese Hegarty from Women4Women says: “This is a safe space to respect our different nationalities, religions and political ideologies. The guns, bombs and hateful ideas create a circle of hate but ours is an alternative reality to share a space with respect. We are everything they are not.”
After initial introductions, the women sat in smaller groups to discuss how greater cross-cultural understanding could be promoted through our communities, schools and workplaces.
"I am very involved in my children's school. The teachers and other parents know we are Muslim and I explain when the children take days off for religious festivals like Eid [which marks the end of the period of fasting at Ramadan]," says Lamia Chaleir Alaoui, who is originally from Morocco.
“I also like my children to listen to what is said [about Christianity] in religious class because it’s good to know the differences and what we have in common. It’s always better to ask questions than to have prejudices.” The woman sitting next to her recently moved to Ireland from France. “I can live with my religion here in Ireland but in France, my daughter wasn’t allowed to wear her hijab in school and Muslims are forced to eat non-halal meat in schools.”
Hijab and racism
Understanding how Muslim women feel about wearing the hijab is a good example of cultural awareness-raising for Irish women.
Did you know, for instance, that pulling off a woman’s hijab has become a form of attacking Muslim women? And, perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the Muslim women present nodded in affirmation when asked whether there had been an increase in racist remarks or behaviour since the Islamic State terrorist attacks in Paris.
Some women in the group thought it was acceptable to wear the hijab on some occasions and always for prayer, while others thought it was not up for debate at all.
"Wearing the hijab protects me and gives me more rights. In Ireland, people do respect religion but there has been a lot of misconceptions and misinterpretations that we [Muslims] are rigid. It's the opposite," says Sabah Nomaankhan.
Fardus Sultan from Women4Women feels strongly that we have to "move from tolerating each other to appreciating each other . . . It's about making small steps and being a good neighbour. I'm a very visible example of my faith. I try to do whatever I can to be open to people and to be approachable."
Sultan says the Muslims haven’t been allowed to grieve the deaths following the Paris terrorist attacks. “My heart goes out to all those who were affected by the attackers. The problem is that Muslims are blamed for it and we have to speak out and say these killings were not in our name. It’s a difficult balance. I don’t want to take responsibility for someone else’s actions and for people who don’t represent me, Muslims or Islam.
“These terrorists do more harm and kill more Muslims [than anyone else]. They try to instil fear in all our hearts by using religion for political gain. Historically, terrorism across the globe has always had the same agenda to demonise and separate people from each other.” A Bosnian refugee, Sultan fled the Siege of Sarajavo in 1995 and made her home in Ireland.
Promoting compassion
As well as face-to-face events such as the Women4Women breakfast, Sultan believes the principles of Compassionate Cities, a worldwide movement promoting compassion for ourselves, other people and our environment, is another useful model to improve cross-cultural integration and understanding.
“We need to educate ourselves to be the best human beings we can. I also feel fear from these terrorist attacks and fear that people might want to harm me. But, I remember the Siege of Sarajavo and I don’t want to give into that fear.”
Women4Women is based in the Southside Partnership office, The Old Post Office, Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Women4women.ie, 087 6128740.
