Muslims in Ireland 'living in fear of far-right extremists'

Imam Ibrahim Michael Noonan: 'All our members, and Muslim people generally in Ireland, are on edge now — they are living in fear. We do not know what is coming next.' File picture: Ray Ryan

Irish Muslim leaders say their congregations are “on edge” and “living in fear” following revelations of an alleged plot by far-right extremists to bomb a mosque.

Imams told the Irish Examiner that the Government must “urgently” lead a national campaign to tackle the spread of hatred, to reassure targeted communities they are safe, and to prevent possible attacks on places of worship and centres for asylum seekers.

It comes as gardaí and the PSNI are continuing a cross-border investigation into the emergence of a violent right-wing extremist organisation, identified as the Irish Defence Army (IDA).

This organisation is considered small, with some eight members. It is understood that almost all of them are known to the authorities.

It is believed security agencies have rendered the organisation “impotent” after arrests last week.

The IDA recently broke away from a wider group, which also sees itself as “self defence against foreign and domestic threats”.

Security sources believe the second group has, so far, not taken the step from extremist ideology to violent extremism — but agencies are not complacent and suspect there will be more such groups. Garda HQ has devoted more resources to the Garda Crime and Security Intelligence Service to focus its units on this area.

The Irish Examiner revealed on Thursday that two men had been arrested in the early hours of Wednesday in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, on suspicion of being members of an unlawful organisation.

The arrests were part of a cross-border operation which involved the discovery by the PSNI of suspect devices.

In a court appearance last Friday, details were heard of an alleged intention by a violent right-wing group to bomb a mosque in Co Galway.

Imam Ibrahim Noonan, of Galway Mosque, described the alleged intention to bomb his mosque as “shocking”. He said: 

All our members, and Muslim people generally in Ireland, are on edge now — they are living in fear. We do not know what is coming next.

“There is a very high state of anxiety.

“Every prayer that we have now, we will be looking over our shoulder. We will have to put security on our front gates, tell people not to walk here but to drive. But I don’t want to turn the mosque into a fortress.”

Praise for gardaí and Galway's mayor and deputy mayor

He said local gardaí were “always good”, calling to the mosque on Friday evening to “reassure” them, and that the crime prevention officer was due this week. 

He praised a visit by the Galway mayor Mike Cubbard and deputy mayor Alan Cheevers to the mosque on Saturday.

Imam Umar Al-Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council: 'Tech companies need to be held to account for hate and be responsible for content on their platforms.' File picture: RollingNews

At the Dublin Mosque, on South Circular Rd, senior member Fazel Ryklief said the developments brought back the heightened state of alert they felt during the Citywest rioting.

“When we had Citywest, we had to lock up and bring the shutters down,” he said.

“We are right on the main road and we feel very helpless if someone wanted to do something. The women say the abuse has gotten a lot worse. But now we hear they are making bombs. That is a lot more scary. All we can do is mind ourselves and depend on the Government and gardaí to protect us.”

He said they have sought to have their monthly garda clinic in the mosque every two weeks.

'New phenomenon'

Imam Umar Al-Qadri, the chairperson of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, said the emergence of a violent far-right group was “a completely new phenomenon”, and he praised the actions of the gardaí.

He said the Government has to act: “Now is the time for policy-makers and the Government. They must act and stop extremism and prevent violence. 

"The Government needs to meet all the faith communities publicly and ensure them of security. We need the public engagement of gardaí.

“We need a high-level approach, translated into policy and laws and practical solutions. 

Tech companies need to be held to account for hate and be responsible for content on their platforms.

Imam Noonan strongly agreed: “We can’t have far-right terror groups emerging in Ireland. It will embolden other people. 

"Many politicians are keeping quiet, but if society does not stand up now after this warning it could happen again, and it will happen again. 

The Government, all parties, TDs, and councillors, need to stand up and speak out and say clearly ‘we will not allow far-right violence’.”

A statement from Garda HQ said: “The Garda National Community Engagement Bureau has a good relationship and engages with the Muslim community in Ireland on an ongoing basis, and continues to liaise with the Muslim community at this time.”

Community gardaí and crime prevention officers also engage with them.