The head of one of Dublin’s most prominent mosques has said people should be celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Dr Ali al-Saleh, who is at the helm of a congregation of about 300 Iraqi Shi'a Muslims in Dublin's Milltown believes Bin Laden’s death should cause jubilation among Muslims.
"From the very day he was eliminated, we should be celebrating. That man did more harm to our religion than anyone else,” he told the Irish Independent.
"He hijacked the name of Islam for more than two decades and used it as a banner for all of his atrocities and crimes.
Dr al-Saleh, who is considered one of the most moderate voices among the Irish Islam community, says that Bin Laden caused shame and embarrassment to the Muslim community.
"Every time I have to take my shoes off at the airport, I curse Bin Laden. He brought nothing but shame and embarrassment to every Muslim."
On the north-side of Dublin city Sheikh Allama Umar Qadri who runs the Al Mustafa Islamic Cultural Centre in Blanchardstown, agrees that the news of the terrorists death is a positive thing.
"The majority of Muslims in Ireland are relieved and happy that this man's life has ended because he is responsible for so many problems in the world in the last decade,” he said.
"But there is a minority who are mourning his death, calling him a martyr and praying for him, the same people who have collected money outside Irish mosques for his cause.
"It's very sad because most Muslims trust their imam and whatever he says, they will believe.
"These people are narrow-minded and afraid that if they integrate in Irish society they will assimilate.
"After 9/11 and 7/7, there were two reactions in the Muslim world. One is that the attacks were totally wrong, that the killing of innocent people is never justified and Islam is against that.
"Then there are people who say it is nothing compared to the number of people who have been killed in Afghanistan or Iraq.
"Even though what they are saying is right, that ideology opens doors to extremism and radicalism, which we are desperately trying to stamp out."
One Muslim follower isn’t that bothered by the death of Bin Laden.
Sheikh Ismail Kotwal runs a Blackpitts mosque in Dublin's Liberties which is home to one of the biggest congregations in Ireland with more than 700 Muslims gathering there every week for prayers.
The British-born imam says he is not convinced of Bin Laden’s involvement on 9/11.
"I have never expressed any sympathy for him or his cause," he told the Irish Independent.
"If he was a bad guy, then he deserved to die.
"But I don't know if he or al-Qa'ida were responsible for the 9/11 bombings.
"You will not hear me celebrating his death because I don't know if he was guilty. I'm not willing to judge him."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sully1167 | May 11, 2011, 04:42 PM EDT
Correct also sirpeter,I agree with you. Since the Irish and Arabs,and Muslims do not owe each other anything,there is no reason for Arabs to be living in Ireland.
sirpeter | May 11, 2011, 08:14 AM EDT
sully1167..Correct!Ireland don't owe the Muslims anything and they don't owe us anything and it's a good way to keep it. Course if Ireland got involved in the middle east and sent in the military and then the Muslims started blowing up bit's of Ireland I would fully except it as the price of having Irish soldier's in a land where some or maybe most don't want them.
IrishGirlyGirl | May 11, 2011, 07:21 AM EDT
Oh goodness, I mean, he was in charge of killing thousands of people during 9-11. And 2005 London bombing. Not to mention countless amounts of other innocent and not-innocent people he's killed. I do see that he is Muslim, and MAYBE if I was Muslim I would be a little upset, but at least he's gone and no longer coordinating all these "bombings" Oh, and in an interview with him a while ago, he said he was responsible for 9-11.
sully1167 | May 11, 2011, 03:51 AM EDT
People from all over the world were killed,in the twin towers bullocks. Not just Americans,you are also forgetting the 2005 London bombing. The 2004 Madrid bombing,to also mention. It is unfortunate that innocent civilians get killed in wars. Plenty of innocent civilians were killed in bombing raids during WWII.
sully1167 | May 11, 2011, 03:30 AM EDT
By the way sirpeter Ireland never conquered any Muslim lands. So Ireland owes nothing to Muslims,like other European countries do.
sully1167 | May 11, 2011, 02:38 AM EDT
Suit yourselves sirpeter & bullocks.
sirpeter | May 10, 2011, 06:04 PM EDT
sully1167..I agree with bullocks below.Sully I'm not afraid of Muslims,I'm not afraid of anybody.It is my experience that if you look for trouble you will find it. I have yet to see Muslims take over any European country.But I have see Christians take over a Muslim country. So I'll take my chances about getting stoned to death for being so liberal.
bullocks | May 10, 2011, 05:42 PM EDT
sully1167 if you drop a bomb from a drone and it kills a civilian they are still dead. you cant restart the game like it is a playstation.calling it collateral killing doesn't make it any less wrong.how can you say it is not intentional when you dropped the bomb? The only difference between this and Osama bin laden's part in the murder of almost 3000 is one is state terrorism and one is terrorism .but the end result is the same i.e. dead people . ask yourself is an american life worth more than a Pakistani life? 957 civilians killed by drones in Pakistan last year
derrymarch | May 10, 2011, 11:44 AM EDT
Thank you, Dr. al Saleh! A model of reason and true tolerance which implies no tolerance for those who hijack the beautiful Muslim religion.
sully1167 | May 10, 2011, 03:29 AM EDT
The killing of innocents is always wrong sirpeter,on either side. There is a difference between intentional and collateral killing. Innocent people were killed on both sides during the Troubles in Ulster. I condemed the IRA whenever they set of bombs targeting civilians in residental areas. A lot of Irish Catholics,Protestants,and British, alike condemed the killing of innocents. Only a small minority of Muslims ever condem the killing of innocent Non-Muslims. Read the Koran Sirpeter.If the Muslims ever take over Ireland, you may be among the first to be stoned to death for being so liberal.
sirpeter | May 09, 2011, 06:00 PM EDT
micheals..*Shouts back with glee* ONLY FOR THE IRISH YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THE WORD BOYCOTT SINCE THE IRISH INVENTED THE WORD IN 1880.OH! AND YOU'RE A BIG HAIRY ANUS. NA-NA!!!NA!NA-NA!!! *Tee-hee
lmckee48 | May 09, 2011, 05:26 PM EDT
i am glad that he is dead, but guess where he is now.....
antoman | May 09, 2011, 05:23 PM EDT
Oh no! I am to be boycotted by micheals.pfft..hey kid,kiss my rosy Irish arse.
micheals | May 09, 2011, 04:57 PM EDT
SIRPETER U R A TOTAL BOLLAX
micheals | May 09, 2011, 04:55 PM EDT
O,DOWD WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 1ST AMMEN
micheals | May 09, 2011, 04:52 PM EDT
MY COMMENT TO BOYCOTT THE IRISH WAS TAKEN DOWN VERY QUICKLY CANT STAND THE TRUTH
Jeannetteskid | May 09, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT
U b ll was killer who got what he deserved
FastEddy | May 09, 2011, 02:11 PM EDT
Can we get a read on Irish Catholics now?
noeldoyle | May 09, 2011, 01:32 PM EDT
I think the world is a far better place without him. May he burn in Hell.
sirpeter | May 09, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT
@hooligan6a..Did your Irish grandfather make foreign or domestic policy in the White house? Own any slaves or kill any redskins.Then if not, he is not responsible.(I use the derogatory term Redskins sarcastically because that's what some Americans called them in the movies)SOME Muslims hit back by killing 3000 innocent people that did them no harm. SOME Americans killed 1.5 million innocent Muslims who did no harm either.Do not take responsibility for what a government does. You have almost no say apart from your vote.Believe me we know in Ireland how a government can hide things from the people. Those 3000 innocent people that did no harm died as a direct result of your government,s policy in the middle east. Study American foreign policy in the middle east since WW2 and at least KNOW why SOME Muslims want to kill ye. There must be a reason and believe me they are not after your beliefs or freedom.To think that is to demean a billion people. You either get it or you don't. As of to-date the Irish government hasn't managed to get the Muslims to hate me and make me a target,if they ever do I guarantee you it's not the Muslims who will feel my anger.
Nicoletta | May 09, 2011, 10:20 AM EDT
It's gratifying to hear such temperate sentiments from the Muslim community in Ireland. However, their numbers are very few there - as Islamic populations in a country grow, so does their militantism. Don't go down the same road as the rest of Europe Ireland. Beware!!!
Suivness10 | May 09, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT
Finally a voice of sanity in the wilderness. The guy took out over 3,000 people; he deserved to be taken out.
hooligan6a | May 09, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT
Sirpeter, My irish grandfather did not own slaves nor kill any Redskins, as you call them. The Muslims hit back by killing 3000 innocent people that did them no harm. And that's fine with you?
sirpeter | May 09, 2011, 08:30 AM EDT
As expected a high level of Xenophobia and indignation even in the face of fact's and backed by historical fact as well. Parents:Quote"The free world is in a fight for their way of life.Nonsense!!Pittsburghkid:Quote"Muslims never tell infidels the truth.Nonsense!!Srdools:Quote"Muslims will do in Ireland just as they have done in the UK.Enjoy.Nonsense!!IAPRINCESS:Quote"I have not stopped praying for the Muslim people who had to bear the shame of Bin Laden.Nonsense!!Gmtsource:Quote"I don't think Islam and Muslims are honest in their saying and in their doing.Nonsense!!Sully1167:Quote"Muslims and Arabs cannot be trusted and Muslims will stick together even when the are wrong.Nonsense!!Kateomprint:I think sirpeter has lost his marbles and is just on a rant for the sake of it.Nonsense!!
sully1167 | May 09, 2011, 06:25 AM EDT
I agree with a lot of posters on this topic. Muslims and Arabs cannot be trusted. They have proved it for decades,Muslims will stick together even when the are wrong. Read the Koran it is an evil book. There is a verse that states that "Every Muslim is your brother", "Fight for Islam". A lot of Muslims interpret that as conquering the world for Islam. They want to force their religion on the world just as much as Crazy Christians do.
kateomprint | May 09, 2011, 03:06 AM EDT
I think sirpeter has lost his marbles and is just on a rant for the sake of it. Obama Got Osama so lets be grateful.
gmtsource | May 09, 2011, 01:15 AM EDT
Ali al-Saleh,Sheikh Ismail Kotwal, Islamic Clergy et al, Why don't you all ex-communicated Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, Taliban from Islam, if their act is against Islam and damaging Islam ? For a decade after 9/11 you kept silence on Osama Bin Laden and still you have not condemned Al Qaeda, Taliban etc. I don't think Islam and Muslims are honest in their saying and in their doing.
LilPaddy | May 08, 2011, 10:54 PM EDT
The "British-born" imam professing his "uncertainty" is B.SHIT.... This imam and his like thinking kind should have been standing directly behind Bin laden just before he was introduced to his 72 virgins (which if true about how the the middle east treat females) would make those virgins about 12 or 13 years old..... And since those type kids can be bought this very day in BinladenlandSick...... Is there any of you believing that U.B.L did not already buy all he wanted before last week??? F.n B*****Ds.....
LilPaddy | May 08, 2011, 09:52 PM EDT
Sirpeter you are an idiot of that there is no doubt
hhronec | May 08, 2011, 08:16 PM EDT
He was the mastermind behind the attacks on 9/11 that killed 3000 people in the United States and responsible for other terror attacks that killed people as well. He, himself, has admitted he was responsible for these attacks. So, there should be no question in anyone's mind about his guilt.
sirpeter | May 08, 2011, 02:51 PM EDT
Cost of war in Afghanistan and Iraq is $1,191,523,457,325. Plus over 1.5 million Muslim life's. Stamp out injustice and you stamp out extremism and radicalism. Since you only get extremism and radicalism where you have injustice. Those Mussies are strange people they get all extreme and radical when they get bombed and invaded. They are like the Redskins and uppity Nig*ers .Wild savages the whole lot of them. How dare they hit back.We only took the Redskins land,made slaves of black people and now we just want the mussy oil. What's wrong with them?. We gave them freedom.
joeboy1 | May 08, 2011, 12:27 PM EDT
we need to hear from more Muslims like him !!
citizen69 | May 08, 2011, 12:13 PM EDT
Well said Dr Ali al-Saleh.
IAPRINCESS | May 08, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT
I have not stopped praying for the Muslim people who had to bear the shame of Bin Laden. He was irrational, eratic and a demon best off where he is now - hopefully HELL
antoman | May 08, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT
If what happened on 7/7 in the UK when buses and trains were blown up happened here in Ireland.I doubt the Gardai and the Defense Force combined would be sufficient to prevent the mass vigilantism that would sweep the whole country.
srdools | May 08, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT
Muslims will do in Ireland just as they have done in the UK.Enjoy
PaddyMacOReilly | May 08, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT
"Dr al-Saleh, who is considered one of the most moderate voices among the Irish Islam community, says that Bin Laden caused shame and embarrassment to the Muslim community".....Very well said...naturally I concur.
Pittsburghkid | May 08, 2011, 11:00 AM EDT
Muslim never tell infidels the truth. Stop Muslim immigration.
Parents | May 08, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT
Bin Laden was a criminal and he was treated as such. The real problem is the number of followers he had and still has and we don't really know who they are. That is the scary part so natural we are suspect of all muslims. It's a major concern why muslims do not speak out more on this criminal. is it approval by silence? He committed a major crime against the US on US soil and they dealth with him. I don't think for a moment that because of his death that we are more secure, not at all. The free world is in a fight for their way of life.
sirpeter | May 08, 2011, 08:39 AM EDT
"Dr al-Saleh, who is considered one of the MOST moderate voices among the Irish Islam community" The media either interview Muslim Uncle Tom's or Muslim Malcolm X's. Both at the end of the day undermine eachother and all Muslim's.Result!! Prepare the American people for more slaughter of Muslim innocent Men,Women and Children.