Irish Muslim council welcomes plan to tackle radical imams

The Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland has welcomed a proposed EU document calling for action to tackle radical imams.

The Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland has welcomed a proposed EU document calling for action to tackle radical imams.

The paper on combating radicalisation urges governments to monitor "travelling imams inciting to violence, talent spotters, recruiters and other leading figures, and their movements within the European Union".

The Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland has called on all "Muslims to repudiate imams who preach violence, segregation and bigotry". It says the EU paper includes many recommendations that are identical to a document that it has drafted for the Irish Government.

The 10-point proposal "to stop extremism from taking a hold among Irish Muslims and Muslim residents" includes educating all primary students to have a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and intolerance, and to scrutinise the curriculums taught in faith-based schools to ensure no misogynistic, homophobic or extremist material is used.

READ MORE

The proposals, which were drafted on December 20th, also call for the public "naming and shaming" of imams, preachers and religious teachers who advocate "violence, intolerance and the subjugation of women".

The proposals recommend the promotion of involvement of Muslims in charities, social clubs, conservation societies, sports clubs and Irish-speaking groups, while discouraging the formation of clubs based solely on the exclusion of those not of the Muslim faith.

They also want a coalition of moderate and progressive Muslims, build stronger links with the wider Irish community, particularly in rural areas, and to ensure that Muslim women have "an equal footing at the highest levels of leadership in the community".

The proposals have been supported by Opposition parties.

Jim O'Keeffe of Fine Gael said immigration and multiculturalism could be good for Ireland, but the current system was not being managed well.

"We believe that immigrants have the right to be free of discrimination and have their contribution to the country recognised, but they have the responsibility to integrate into our community, comply with our laws and respect our cultural traditions."

Labour said the party supported moderate Muslims in their efforts within the community to stop the spread of extremism.

Ciarán Cuffe said the Green Party "supports all efforts to promote tolerance and understanding in Irish society", and that all its election candidates would sign a pledge "promoting respect and combating all forms of xenophobia in the Irish community as a whole".