Ireland’s Muslims must push for greater inclusiveness
There is growing momentum in the United States and elsewhere for greater application and implementation of Sharia law in the lives of Muslims.
A recent conference held in Hartford, north-east of New York City, garnered the support of over 15,000 Muslims demanding more inclusiveness and respect for their religious beliefs in an aggressively secularized America.
Muslims in Ireland adhere to the Irish Constitution, and like our non-Muslim counterparts we simply ask that the protections afforded us in the Constitution and numerous statute laws be applied. We wish to practice our faith pursuant to said Constitution, and that includes private contracts.
It is time Ireland moved beyond the notion of singularity and homogeneity: we now live in a diverse society made up of various beliefs and practices, and as much as society makes provision for that difference, it has proven selective upon whom it bestows those liberties. Traditionally, Muslims have borne the brunt of this repression both in Ireland and beyond.
We believe it is time Muslims in Ireland pushed for greater inclusiveness and application of Sharia, both within our own community and in private contracts. The Irish Government must realise that the demographic and cultural diversity on this island requires a more all-encompassing approach that meets the needs of all its citizens.
As Muslims, we ask for no more or less than our non-Muslim counterparts.
