A Muslim representative body unique in Europe, the Irish Council of Imams, was launched in Dublin yesterday.
Representing all 14 imams in Ireland, of both the Sunni and Shia traditions, it will have the authority to speak on relevant issues on behalf of the estimated 40,000 Muslims in the State.
Chaired by Imam Hussein Halawa, imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland at Clonskeagh in Dublin, its deputy chairman is Imam Yahya Al-Hussein, imam of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland on Dublin's South Circular Road, and its general secretary is Ali Selim.
Representatives on the council include those from Muslim communities in Galway, Limerick, the Cork Islamic Centre, Waterford, Meath, Clonee, the Milltown Islamic Centre in Dublin, Tallaght, and Lucan.
The council is a theological body whose objectives, as well as giving the Muslim view on events in Ireland, will also include the formation of a specialised official Muslim body to give the Islamic verdict on topical issues in Ireland. It also aims to encourage positive integration of Muslims in Irish society as well as providing social and educational programmes for imams.
It intends making a positive contribution towards finding solutions to social and family problems in Ireland and to co-operate, where relevant, with various agencies and organisations. It also intends collaborating with people of other faiths through dialogue on matters held in common and to spread the spirit of Islamic tolerance.
Imam Halawa described the council as "unique in Europe", in that it represented all imams in Ireland, including those of both the Sunni and Shia traditions. The council had been formed "to be a religious authority for Muslims in Ireland", he said.
Mr Selim said preparations to set it up had taken place for the past 14 to 15 months.
Its coming into being had not been influenced by the controversy last month when Sheikh Dr Shaheed Satardien, of the Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland, accused other Irish Islamic leaders of being "in denial" about claims that young Irish Muslims upwards were being radicalised on trips to their parents' country of origin, Mr Selim said.
The director of the Islamic Cultural Centre at Clonskeagh in Dublin, Dr Nooh al-Kaddo, said he did not agree at all with Dr Satardien's viewpoint. "I don't know where he got this information from," he said.
"I am dealing with the grassroots directly. We try our best to help with the integration process, to ensure that they are understanding how to be a Muslim and at the same time to be a good citizen," he said.
Mr Selim also expressed surprise at findings in a Sunday Tribune poll last Sunday that just 42 per cent of those surveyed believed Irish Muslims were tolerant. "That is extremely low. I believe it [ the figure] should be in the 90s," he said.
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