The president of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland (IFI), Imam Yahya Al Hussein, has appealed to Irish employers and institutions to be more accommodating towards Muslims wishing to practise their religion.
He said many members of Ireland's Muslim community, including professionals working with companies, colleges and in business, were finding it difficult to fulfil their obligations of daily prayers, fasting, and observance of religious festivals.
He also said that many Muslims born in this State were still regarded as foreigners. "They are not happy about that. Those born here have known no other homeland," he said.
Imam Al Hussein was speaking at the IFI's annual conference in Dublin at the weekend. He said Muslims here were "very grateful" to the Irish people and Government for all their help to the community, especially in education. They were also grateful for assistance given to Muslim refugees from Bosnia, Somalia, and Kosovo.
Deputising for the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Garry Keegan spoke about the complex task of successful integration and said it could only be achieved by co-ordinated effort across State and voluntary organisations.
"Racism and xenophobia are ills which, if left untreated, will infect our society to the extent that the values we consider to be particularly Irish - the generosity, the hospitality, the humanity - will no longer apply to us. Or worse, will be applied to us only with the bitterest irony, as is beginning to be the case," he said.
"Ireland is now in transition to a multi-cultural society. Refugees, asylum-seekers, economic immigrants and new immigrants are becoming part of the new Ireland," he said.
Dr Mazhar Ali Bari, of the department of physics at Trinity College, said there were 12,000 Muslims in Ireland, comprising 36 nationalities including Irish. The majority lived in Dublin, where there were two mosques and a Muslim national school attended by 240 children.
Other mosques were located at Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; Galway, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Cavan, and Waterford.
He emphasised the beliefs shared by Muslims, Jews and Christians, including belief in one God and many similar theological truths and ethical values. He pointed out the significance of Jesus and Mary for Muslims, noting that a chapter in the Koran is devoted to Mary.
The Three Faiths Forum of Ireland, representing "the Abrahamic family" of Muslims, Christians and Jews, will hold an open forum at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, Clonliffe Road, Dublin, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Speakers will include the Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Dr Gavin Broder, Mr Siraj Zaidi of the Ahlul Bait Islamic Centre in Milltown, Dublin, and Father Michael Drumm of Mater Dei. Everyone is welcome.
