Islamic leaders in Ireland have criticised a radical Islamic cleric, based in Lebanon, who reportedly expressed support for a terrorist attack on Dublin airport.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, a self-taught cleric who has been banned from setting foot in the UK, has been preaching via the internet since his exile to Lebanon, according to the BBC's Newsnight programme.
The Irish Council of Imams - which represents all 14 imams in Ireland of both the Sunni and Shia traditions - yesterday criticised the preacher's comments and said they did not reflect the views of Irish Muslims.
The group's general secretary Ali Selim said he was confident Muslims here did not attach any weight to Bakri's views.
"Of course we criticise his views. He is not a scholar and he is not an influential person. Who listens to him? Let him talk, but no one will listen to him. People here are not naive, so I don't worry at all about what he is saying," he said.
Mr Selim added that he was not aware of problems with radicalism in Ireland, due mainly to the successful integration of Muslims into Irish society.
"We are part of this society and we are not guests anymore. Why should people pay attention to an outsider like this?
"His statements should not be taken seriously and should not be given much attention." The radical cleric is the founder of the now disbanded radical al-Muhajiroun movement in Britain which sought to recruit disenchanted young Muslims in Muslim communities, mainly outside mosques in poorer areas.
A group called the Vigil Network, which was established to monitor the jihadist movement, said it discovered Bakri talking to supporters this summer and recorded the discussions.
He is reported to have said to a supporter regarding Dublin airport: "Hit the target, hit it very hard and that issues must be understood, the situation there is quite difficult."
Dublin-based Dr Shaheed Satardien of the Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland - which is not part of the Irish Council of Imams - said the comments underlined the need to address the threat of radicalism.
Dr Satardien, who courted controversy earlier this year when he claimed Islamic leaders in Ireland were "in denial" about the threat of radicalism, said the comments underlined the need to take a strong stance against radicalism.
"I have been accused of scaremongering, but there is always a danger that these kinds of comments can have a resonance with some youth.
"He is basically saying, 'you have a target here' . . . That is why we need to stop closing our eyes and ears over people trying to stir up Islamaphobia."
