Syria challenges segregation in Irish schools

SYRIA’S most senior Muslim cleric has told Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin Syria will not help cultural integration in Ireland with a school system segregated on the basis of religion.

The country’s Grand Mufti, Dr Ahmad Badr Al Din Hassoun, said a fully secular education lets children understand each other’s individual identity.

“[If a child carries his own problems and is segregated] he might feel he is oppressed. Here comes the roll of government and religious leaders to let the children preserve their own identity.

“If this is done in Islamic schools or Muslim schools or Catholic schools or Protestant schools it is from just this one point of view, here the problem starts,” he said.

Mr Martin was visiting Syria’s Ministry of Religious Affairs during the first leg of a three-country tour of the Middle East.

He said the fact children in the North went to religious schools during the Troubles did not help.

But he argued while the Irish education system was organised along religious lines, the curriculum was set up to encourage religious tolerance.

The Grand Mufti was told Islam was now Ireland’s third largest religion, it had increased by 70% in recent years and he was mindful of the role it played in society.

The cleric suggested educational exchanges could be developed between the two countries to encourage greater understanding.

Mr Martin also met Syria’s president Bashar al- Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem.

During the meetings they discussed future economic links and it was announced that a Syrian trade mission was expected to visit Ireland this autumn.

The Gaza conflict was also discussed and Mr Martin gave his strongest indication yet that negotiations with Hamas may be on the cards. He said the international community could not afford to pursue an “absolutist” policy.

“Clearly mechanisms have to be established in Gaza, particularly in aid and reconstruction.

“[And] we cannot just close the door if we don’t like certain aspects.”

Last night Mr Martin travelled to neighbouring Lebanon where today he will meet the remaining Irish peacekeeping troops based in the UN headquarters at Naqoura.