Muslims flee Northern Ireland to escape anti-Islam violence
Some Muslims in Northern Ireland have announced plans to leave the country to avoid anti-Islamic violence. The announcement comes after an attack on a Muslim family in the city of Belfast, when crazed rioters broke into their home and assaulted them
The home invasion
came after remarks from Belfast based Pastor James McConnell, who said
in a sermon “The God we worship and serve this evening is not Allah. The
Muslim god-Allah-is a heathen deity. Allah is a cruel deity. Allah is a
demon deity.” He later added that Islam is “a doctrine spawned in
hell.” Hospitalization was required for at least one of the victims.
A second attack
occurred only hours later, also resulting in injuries. Victims told the
Northern Ireland News Letter “The victim’s friend, who had been cleaning
up the broken glass outside the house after an attack earlier that day,
said those involved in the attack had called the pair ‘dirty Arabs’ and
‘Paki b******s.”
” The term “Paki” is
viewed as a racial slur in Europe , particularly when directed at
individuals of Pakistani descent (or of a similar appearance to those
who come from Pakistan). The News Letter reports a young woman and a
middle aged man have been arrested in connection with the attacks.
Pastor Paul Burns of Adullam Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast
agreed, telling the Belfast Telegraph “When Pastor McConnell is talking
about it as a direct teaching of Satan – it is.
” The Christian News
Network reports “Following McConnell’s May 18th sermon, the Police
Service of Northern Ireland investigated the preacher for allegations of
hate crime. Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness
described the preacher’s comments as ‘hate mongering’ and said the
anti-Muslim statements ‘must be condemned in the strongest possible
terms.’” McGuinness told the Daily Mirror “Coming in the wake of recent
spate of disgraceful racist attacks against families in parts of Belfast
and elsewhere, such inflammatory comments only serve to fuel hatred …
[It is] essential that there is a full and thorough investigation of
these comments and their potential to generate further racist attacks.
” The First Minister
of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, has also thrown his support behind
Pastor McConnell. According to the BBC “[Robinson] went on to say that
he would not trust Muslims either.” The remarks by the Pastor and First
Minister have been met with strong criticism from the Christian
community. Presbyterian Reverend Dr. Rob Craig spoke out against the
remarks to the BBC, stating
“They are not
consistent with the Gospel of Christ and the love of God. I would be
deeply offended if someone were to brand either all Presbyterians or all
Christians with some extreme act by someone who claimed to do it in the
name of Christ. I want to treat my neighbor as I would want to be
treated myself.” “As Christians, it is our duty to spread the love of
God across Ireland to those whom we meet and with whom we come into
contact, irrespective of nationality, race or creed, and be gracious in
doing so,” said a spokesperson for another Church to the Belfast
Telegraph.
“I would reject any
generalized view of Muslim people,” he continued. “I do not view Islam
as a monolithic religion but as taking different expressions and
possessing within itself a variety of theological traditions.” “I
believe that the Church of Ireland is right to engage in constructive
dialogue with other religions.
To do so is not to
endorse other religious beliefs but is to recognize those of other
faiths who are willing to join in such an effort will do so in the right
spirit,” said Canon Ian Ellis, editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette.
Facing a police investigation over instigating a hate crime, Pastor
McConnell has attempted to backpedal by apologizing to the victims of
the attack and offering to pay for the damages caused by the home
invasion.
It is unknown if the
offer to pay for the attack counts as a legal admission of guilt in
Northern Ireland. First Minister Robinson has also backed away from his
remarks. Critics describe the apologies and changes in demeanor as
“insincere.”
For more click LINK
No comments:
Post a Comment