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Muslim leader says extremist elements here must be tackled  | February 08, 2007

Thursday February 8th 2007

A PROMINENT Dublin imam has stepped up warnings about Muslim fanatics in Ireland and called for urgent action to tackle the cult of the suicide bomber.

The imam and his Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) also yesterday published a '10-point proposal to stop extremism from taking hold', including "publicly naming and shaming imams and other religious leaders who advocate religious intolerance and the subjugation of women".

Sheikh Shaheed Satardien made headlines several months ago when he warned a Sunday newspaper about 'an ocean of extremism' among Muslim youth in Ireland.

Since then, he has challenged fanaticism on university forums and radio shows. RTE made a 'Would You Believe' programme about how he has been ostracised for his stance.

He said yesterday that a host of extremist groups, including the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, were well established in Ireland.

Lions

"We are not talking about thousands of people, but maybe 100 young lions or firebrands. It's not quantity that is important here, it is intensity of views. We are at a crossroads. Let's nip it in the bud now."

He said he was speaking for "the moderate majority". His life had been threatened, as he has spoken out.

In the past few months alone, he had several encounters with extremists, he said. These included being challenged and "almost attacked" by a group of Pakistani youths at his mosque, because they supported suicide bombings and he did not.

Sheikh Satardien added the Government and much of the Muslim community here was "in denial", ignoring the fanatics.

Many Muslim people and organisations had contacted him to express support.

After the EU published proposals for tackling Muslim extremism this week, the SMC published its own plan. It includes:

* Educating all children, starting in primary school, on having a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and intolerance.

* Careful scrutinising of curricula in faith-based schools to ensure they contain no hateful, misogynistic, homophobic or extremist material.

* Strong promotion of Muslims of all ages in long-established local charities like St Vincent de Paul and Concern, as well as social clubs and sports clubs.

* Ensuring Muslim women had an equal footing at the highest level of leadership in their communities.

Referring to the recent Irish Independent/Prime Time poll finding that one-third of Muslims here favoured imposition of Sharia law in Ireland, he said: "Isn't that extremism?

"Isn't that something for the Government to be worried about?"

Religious leaders at the Clonskeagh mosque have spoken out against Sheikh Satardien's warnings in the past, saying Muslim youth here had no inclination to take up violence.

The mosque is linked to controversial Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, noted for expressing support for suicide bombers in Lebanon and other places, "depending on the ability to confront the enemy".

The Muslim Supreme Council said it has been trying to get a government response on the proposals for months. Both Fine Gael and Labour pledged their support yesterday.

Jo-Anne Smetherham


--
Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland

Mohammed AlKabour
Secretary-General
Tel: +353 419812048
Mobile:+353 860895955

Sheikh (Prof.) Shaheed Satardien
Chairman
Tel: +353 1 8218485
Mobile: +353 879932581

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Posted by admin at February 8, 2007 08:53 AM


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