A number of Muslims in Ireland who feel marginalised in Irish society have begun campaigning for equal rights under the banner of a new organisation.
The Muslim Public Affairs Committee Ireland (MPACIE), which has been in operation for two months, is a sister organisation of the UK-based MPAC, established 11 years ago, and operates as a network across cities in Ireland. It urges Muslims to enter the mainstream political scene and objects to misrepresentations of its community in the national media.
Liam Egan, branch manager of MPACIE in Wexford, says: “We encourage Muslims to get involved in the political parties. Equality will not truly happen as a result of Muslims shaking banners in front of Leinster House, but only once they sit inside it and are in a position to make decisions for the benefit of Muslims and the whole of society.”
However, the group’s agenda is not solely directed at the non-Muslim community, but “represents those who are marginalised, not just in Irish society but also in the Muslim community,” says Egan.
According to the 2006 census, there are some 32,539 Muslims living in Ireland, making theirs the third largest religious community in the country.
Egan cites equal rights for Muslim women, in the form of access and involvement in the running of mosques, as one of the group’s main objectives. Another key issue is the apparent discrimination of Muslims in the Garda force, which prevents women who wear the hijab from joining due to the dress code policy in place.
At present much of MPACIE’s attention is focused on the war in Gaza, which Egan says “is a central issue for every Muslim”. He also stated his disappointment that many of the Israelis “who have suffered so much under Nazi Germany can now be as nasty as the Germans”.
