Incidences of anti-Muslim abuse on the rise in Ireland

Physical and verbal abuse against Muslims in Ireland is on the rise.

According to the Equality Authority, negative portrayals of Muslims in the media are leading to more attacks.

Up to 25,000 Muslims live in Ireland.

A number of famous Muslim writers and actors are speaking about Islamophobia in Dublin tonight in a conference organised by the Equality Authority to raise the profile of the issue.

Chief Executive Neil Crowley said: “Xenophobia is a global phenomenon so we would be foolish to think we were exempt from it.”

“And there are indicators that it is an issue here, indicators in terms of reports of physical and verbal abuse and in terms of some media reporting that does stereotype Muslim people.”

He also claimed there were indicators from the Garda Human Rights Office that highlighted difficulties in relations between the Gardaí and the Muslim community.