A leading Muslim cleric who advocates the death penalty for homosexuals and who has defended suicide bombers has been refused entry to Ireland.
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi has been banned from entering the country after his latest attempt to meet with Irish Muslims.
The 84-year-old Egyptian is head of the European Council of Fatwa and Research.
According to the Irish Independent, the ECFR is a private Islamic foundation whose headquarters are at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Dublin.
Al-Qaradawi’s latest attempt to visit Ireland was blocked after immigration officials noted his comments that suicide-bombing attacks on Israelis are ‘martyrdom in the name of God’.
He is currently banned from entering the USA and the UK as well as Ireland and now spends most of his time in the Middle-East state of Qatar where he is a regular guest on satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera.
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The Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland has refused to condemn Al-Qaradawi’s comments on suicide bombings or homosexuality.
Chief executive Dr Nooh al-Kaddo has confirmed to the Irish Independent that Al-Qaradawi’s foundation has its headquarters at the ICCI.
“The sheikh is widely respected and a “learned scholar. His views are representative of Islamic teachings and are not assumed to be a violation of same,” said Dr al-Kaddo.
In the past Al-Qaradawi has been accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia but he has expressed some moderate views, condemning the 9/11 terror attacks and supporting Muslim integration in Western societies.
The ICCI’s defence of Al-Qaradawi has been criticized by other elements of Ireland’s Muslim Community but Dr Al-Kaddo said he rejected such criticism.
“The ICCI is aware that on occasion there are claims it does not take a sufficiently strong stance against global extremism,” he said.
“The ICCI has, on all occasions of extreme violence carried out against innocents, condemned it, especially when the perpetrators claim it to be in the name of Islam.”
He also disputed claims, made in leaked US embassy cables, that ICCI members celebrated the kidnapping of Irish-born aid worker Margaret Hassan in 2004.
“We cannot be held accountable by our community or others for the actions of a few who see matters in a different light,” he told the Independent.
“We are not aware that these celebrations took place. However, we do not condone it if they did. If we had knowledge of such celebrations on our premises we would have endeavored to address the matter immediately and stopped such atrocious behavior.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.timbobdennehy | Aug 12, 2011, 07:57 PM EDT
or was that paddy irishman,and a jack russell,walk into a bar and the cleric exploded in laughter.
timbobdennehy | Aug 12, 2011, 07:55 PM EDT
or was that paddy irishman,and a jack russell,walk into a bar and the cleric exploded in laughter.
timbobdennehy | Aug 12, 2011, 07:53 PM EDT
paddy irishman,and a jack russell,walk in to a cleric.the bar exploded in laughter.
themurphia | Aug 09, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT
Multiculturalism/Diversity is a good *idea* it just doesn't work in practice...Have you seen what is happening in cities across England...?In view of the comments deemed acceptable below Ed I do not see why this should have been removed when posted earlier...!
jacersagain | Aug 08, 2011, 07:46 PM EDT
Well said Parents! See my posts under yesterday's ICentral article on Ramadan in Ireland. I totally agree with you - we can no longer sit idly by and let the scourge of Islam claim Ireland and the West for itself.
Parents | Aug 08, 2011, 05:12 PM EDT
He should be banned from every decent country and many others who think like him as well. I am tired of living a life where we can't offend anyone, to hell with that, you talk this crazy talk and offended or not, I say -then get out. I am very offended by their attitude and their preaching and their ideas, they are offensive and dangerous.
Chiefjustice | Aug 08, 2011, 03:20 PM EDT
A little racial profileing goes a long way.... Just round them all up and ship them out. Or if you want problems in the future ...... Then just sit back and wait...
themurphia | Aug 08, 2011, 02:02 PM EDT
That's just Shiite..!
IftikharA | Aug 08, 2011, 12:46 PM EDT
West must learn to respect and tolerate those who are different. IA http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk
fargobarbi | Aug 08, 2011, 12:17 PM EDT
Ireland is only making it clear to the rest of the world that terrorism & hatred will not be tolerated. So refusing his entry is absolutely defensible. Good for Ireland.
sirpeter | Aug 08, 2011, 11:01 AM EDT
I have no problem offending him or the Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland.If they are silent on the death penalty for an innocent harmless bunch of people.Very harsh words should be used.The ICCI had better get with the Irish program.Homosexuals are not meant to be killed.They are meant to be the "butt" of jokes and Lesbian po*n is always welcome.
GeorgeDillon | Aug 08, 2011, 11:00 AM EDT
The Irish are right to keep this guy out. He has nothing to offer except hate. But how come they don't act to close that "Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland"? Have the Irish cops ever even raided it to see what's going on there? And on the broader question, yesterday's IrishCentral told us there are 45.000 Muslims in Ireland. Who let them in? And why? How come there are still Bosnian Muslim "refugees" in Ireland, about 12 years after the Yugoslav Civil War ended? Why are there Iraqi "refugees" in Ireland--that war is long over too! The Irish government are imbeciles when it comes to protecting their borders.
sirpeter | Aug 08, 2011, 11:00 AM EDT
I have no problem offending him or the Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland.If they are silent on the death penalty for an innocent harmless bunch of people.Very harsh words should be used.The ICCI had better get with the Irish program.Homosexuals are not meant to be killed.They are meant to be the "butt" of jokes and Lesbian porn is always welcome.
JBRAFTREE | Aug 08, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT
This guy should be banished back to Egypt, carrying one of his hands in a plastic bag.
johhnyb | Aug 08, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT
Well he's certainly conroversial. Let's not say anything stronger in case we offend him.