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Saudi Arabia to set up first Irish Muslim high school in Dublin

DONAL THORNTON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:03 AM

Updated Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:23 AM

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Muslim high schools for Ireland: Saudi Web site announced plans in Arabic

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The Saudi Arabian government has announced that it plans to open an Islamic school in Dublin.

The Saudi plans were revealed in Arabic on their Web site for the new Saudi embassy in Dublin. The Saudis hope to use the embassy to "further develop our political, trade and cultural relations with Ireland."

The decision was made at a meeting last month which was attended by members of the education committee Saudi Shura Council.

A report on the Web site said: "It was decided in the meeting to establish a Saudi school to teach the children of Saudi citizens and students residing in Ireland."

The Saudi ambassador, Abdulaziz Aldriss, said "Many Saudi students have found Ireland as a friendly destination to improve their English language skills and pursue their second and third-level education."

A spokesperson for The Department of Education said it was unaware of any Saudi plans to establish a Muslim school.

Saudi officials say the plans are at an early stage.

Ireland has a Muslim population of more than 40,000 people, but there are only about 400 Saudi students and 15 Saudi families in Ireland.

Speaking to the Irish Times, Ali Selim, a theologian based at the Islamic Centre in Clonskeagh, welcomed the news and said if the high school opened it would "achieve a long-cherished Muslim ambition" in Ireland.

There are already several Muslim primary schools in Ireland. If the Saudi plans are successful, it will be the first Muslim High School in Ireland.

The move was also welcomed by Irish Muslim convert Liam Egan and his family. Egan praised the Saudi's "strong commitment" to educating Muslims overseas and said that "an Islamic secondary (high school) is vital and should be a priority for the community."

However, overseas Saudi high schools have come under heavy criticism in recent times. Schools in London, Bonn and the US have come under fire for providing text books that could be interpreted as advocating violence against other religions.

The Islamic Saudi Academy in Virginia was forced to revise its curriculum after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom deemed their educational material as inflammatory.

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58 Comments

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IrishAndProud | Mar 01, 2010, 03:22 PM EST

Plasticpaddy...wrong again and oh-so-eager to embrace things that DESTROY Ireland, all just to show how 'tolerant' and 'diverse' you are. That is nonsensical. Muslims have no business in Ireland, plasticpaddy...and you know that. Quit pretending otherwise.

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innishowen | Dec 16, 2009, 10:03 PM EST

In Ireland you can say "I don't believe in christ or christianity" and you may or may not be frowned upon depending who hears...Try saying the same about Mohamed and Islam in arab country...see where that leads you.

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innishowen | Dec 13, 2009, 08:03 PM EST

Heres a newy hot off the Islamic press/ure. (Pun intended.) Just watching aljazera news and women reporters are now going 'Ala Natural' as far as makeup is concerned...it's now "Illegal" Time to wisen up folks two big issues going on in this world that concern every country. Ones climate related the other culture related. We have grown soft in the west, to open from our flower children days of the late 60's ...we have from then till now had time to "give peace a chance" The ideal is wonderful...the reality seemingly unobtainable as long as we are to be slowly/quickly. Overtaken by the opression of non freedom that Islam preaches and demands! Our apathetic love of peace and not causing (politically incorrect) waves may be the ruin of us. George Bush is infamous for his "Pre-emtive strike" policy.Though I dare to say Islam had made it much earlier...we just haven't been aware of it till now. And God forbid I am not a Bush or his daddy lover.

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jacersisityourself | Dec 13, 2009, 12:34 PM EST

I found that 8-minute video! It's an excellent presentation and highlights what we face as a western society >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a60A3mw2XgQ&feature=related <<<

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jacersisityourself | Dec 13, 2009, 11:20 AM EST

I can’t find a ‘You-tube’ presentation that I saw showing the rapid spread of Islamic believers in the Western world, including the US and Canada. It includes reference to a remark by Libya’s Col. Ghaddafi saying that spreading of Islam by force was no longer necessary as the increasing occupation of all countries by Islamic believers was going so well that it wouldn’t be long before they formed the majority of the populations of these countries. The short film shows the rapid demographic growth of Islamic believers throughout the world. It is startling - on present indications, the populations of most western countries will be of Islamic majority within a generation unless something is done to stop it. A generation is 20-25 years. Is this what we want for our children’s future?

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jacersisityourself | Dec 13, 2009, 11:10 AM EST

It is heart-warming to see level of objection to the proposed Islamic School in Dublin and I hope the people of Dublin and of Ireland everywhere will lodge objections with the Dublin City Council when it comes up for Planning Permission. The teaching of what Mohammed spewed out as a religion, and which this school would also teach if allowed, can be further examined in this interesting comparison between what Mohammed’s Sura and his followers’ Hadith say vs. the Bible can be seen here >>> http://www.thefreepressonline.co.uk/news/4/1457.htm <<<

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sully1167 | Dec 12, 2009, 06:30 PM EST

Well said innishowen,I remember reading about those stories. I also want to add that I don't believe Ireland should be taking orders from other European countries either. That is why I was opposed to Ireland joining the European Union from the start. Not only Ireland, but other countries in Europe fought wars for independence;including two world wars.

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innishowen | Dec 12, 2009, 06:09 AM EST

Thre was another one of these (many) hideous videos getting about recently..taken from some flabbergasted onlooker on their mobile phone whist in the middle east (somewhere) I saw it...and couldn't get it out of my head..still can't! So I know personally I dont need to watch anything worse. The one I speak of was of a young boy about 6 or 7 yo. who had apparently stolen something. They were kind to him (Imagine) instead of cutting his hand off, they held him down and drove a car over his arm! Think about it...this stuff is common place. Or try this one..a bunch of men rape a young girl..then say she seduced them!..They plead innocent,for "her punishment" she is burried up to her neck and stoned to death! This shite happens! Today! If christians still did this type of outdated evil stuff (and they have done as bad in times gone by) There would be the hugest(and rightly so)outcry. Would you/do you wan't an extremist religion that still practices inquisitional type torture...to come to and flourish in your country? I agree whole heartedly with some earlier comments too. After all the fightng for Irelands independence (albeit partial) Is it fair to all those countrymen who died doing so (or even to the Irish youths of today) To now say "come Islam..welcome!" "Bring your outdated, obtuse and violent religious beleif system to our shores!" Ireland is not some 40 shades of Utopia for sure...but it is by comparison to such archaic cruelty.I am now fifty years old and as previously stated, went through the rose coloured period of my life. I thought all we needed to think and pray and chant louder....don't be fooled people. This shool and anything of this nature in the west, requires an active and loud resounding NO!

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IrishAndProud | Dec 12, 2009, 04:17 AM EST

Plasticpaddy, no one on this post that I've seen has called all Muslim nations 'extreme.' What's been said/noted is that A) Islam is completely incompatible with Ireland(which it is) and B) the Muslims who are in western nations are having far more children than the REAL Europeans they're among, and aggressively promoting their own foreign faith and culture. They are doing the OPPOSITE of assimilating. The fact that there are some relatively moderate Muslim nations (at least, at the government level) changes nothing about these facts. Islam is utterly incompatible with Irish identity and culture, and has no business or place anywhere on that entire island. Every Muslim who enters Ireland makes it that much less Irish. They are an unassimilatabel DANGER to Eire.

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sully1167 | Dec 11, 2009, 04:58 PM EST

What about the bigotry of the Islamic Fascists Plasticpaddy? Do you acknowlege that it exists? They are just as extreme and racist as white hate groups,and even more fanatical. The countries you mention below (except Turkey),while their goverments may not be like Saudi Arabia, or Iran they still have a lot of extremists in their goverments. Bottom line is that "Arab Muslims cannot be trusted because they stick together." Just ask the Israelis. When the IRA set bombs off in London and other British cities I condemed the IRA, I didn't applaud and cheer just because I'm of Irish Catholic ancestry.The truth can be very painful.

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plasticpaddy | Dec 11, 2009, 01:30 PM EST

I would even say you use the broadbrush characterising all muclim nations and individuals as expansionist, not all are, only the more extreme, what about Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco, so as much as myself, you to are being overly general in your depiction of Islam.

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plasticpaddy | Dec 11, 2009, 01:28 PM EST

As for not understanding the irsh people, i dont need to I am one, no understanding needed.

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plasticpaddy | Dec 11, 2009, 01:27 PM EST

I wont stop calling what I deem racism or bigotry exactly that you can couch your beliefs in rhetoris if youj want 'culture' give me a break.

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mandokeith | Dec 11, 2009, 09:57 AM EST

Plasticpaddy-you keep crying racisim, like it is your favorite mantra. Have you ever heard of CULTURE? These are two very divergent cultures and they are incongrous at best. There has been WAY ENOUGH evidence given on this blog of the dangers that Islam/ Muslem idealogies and their relative CULTURE would bring to Ireland. Stop playing the race card as a broadbrush for all your arguements it doesn't wash here. Obviously you do not understand the Irish people. No wonder you use the handle plastic........

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kickstar | Dec 11, 2009, 07:18 AM EST

'Watereskhill' I agree with you, The only thing they want to advance is Islam, I wonder if people can't see how the Muslims are increasing even only in the UK and Ireland. One day they will make a move on us and take over, And the politicians who are selling us out now and filling their pockets with brown envelopes will be long gone.

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