Questions for Muslims to answer in Ireland - might be helpful for the US and other countries

Submitted by Paddy Monaghan (Ireland), Aug 22, 2006 at 10:25

Dear Friends

I enclose a letter I had in last Sundays Sunday Tribune newspaper in Ireland. The title the editor gave is "Muslim extremism must be countered" Like many others in Ireland I am very concerned about the growth in Muslim fundamentalism here and pose 6 challenging questions that need an answer.

Please do pray that our Government will deal adequately with this issue, that our country will be protected from fundamentalist Islam and that Moderate and peace loving Muslims like Dr. Shaheed Satardien will be encouraged.

Yours Sincerely

Paddy Monaghan

Muslim extremism must be countered

Sunday Tribune 20^th Aug. 2006

I would like to congratulate Sheikh Dr Shaheed Satardien for courageously highlighting that there was "an ocean of extremism" spreading among Muslims throughout Ireland and that Irish Muslim leaders are failing their young people who are embracing fundamentalism.

Dublin-based Dr Satardien, who is regarded as a moderate cleric, told the Sunday Tribune that young Muslims were being torn between two cultures, drawing them into support for terrorism, anti-Semitism and a hatred of western democracy. In his opinion young Islamic men were spending long periods in locations such as Pakistan where they were taking part in al-Qaeda terrorist training madrassas and brainwashed to reject moderate Islam. Dr Satardien urged the Irish authorities to monitor the activities of foreign national Muslim leaders who he said were entering the country to promote radical fundamentalism.

These comments are deeply disturbing and following the recent plot to blow up a number of aeroplanes surely it is time for our Government leaders and the Irish Muslim community to address the following:

1) Within Islamic literature, the world is divided into two spheres, Dar al-Islam, used to describe land presently ruled by Islam, and Dar al-Harb meaning territory currently under the rule of infidels which has not yet been subdued by Islam. Can Sheikh Halawa, the President of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland and Imam of the South Circular Road Mosque in Dublin give reassurance that they don't see or regard Ireland as being part of Dar al-Harb?

2) The Quran itself seems to justify the killing of infidels (Jews and Christians) in a number of places and one such example is to be found in Sura 47.4 "When you meet the unbelievers in jihad, chop off their heads." Can Sheikh Halawa give reassurance that passages such as these from the Quran are not seen by young radicalised Muslims as a call to general jihad?

3) The Garda's Middle Eastern Desk acknowledged some time ago that they are hamstrung in their efforts to deal with the militants by current laws. Sheik al-Qaradawi, a radical fundamentalist preacher, who regularly preaches support for suicide bombing, murder of homosexuals and the elimination of the State of Israel, recently visited Dublin to chair the 14^th Session of the European Council for Fatwa. Should such militants be banned from entering Ireland?

4) Sheikh Halawa is also Secretary of this European Council for Fatwa, which is headquartered in the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh. Would Sheikh Halawa give reassurance that he does not support suicide bombings, etc?

5) If the Islamic Cultural Centre constructs Ireland's first Islamic Secondary School what measures will the Department of Education take to ensure that no incitement to hatred forms any part of the curriculum?

6) Should Muslims, who believe that jihad against non Muslims is their right and duty, be denied obtaining citizenship in Ireland?. Should the promotion of Sharia Law in Ireland also disqualify Muslims from obtaining citizenship?

It is my hope that Ministers McDowell, O'Dea and Hanafin and the Muslim Community will come up with answers which will help safeguard this country from any fundamentalist Muslim threat and encourage moderate Muslims like Dr. Satardien

Yours sincerely

Paddy Monaghan, Catholic Lay Missionary

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