Protesters at planned anti-Islam event "welcome to come in for a cup of tea"

TheJournal.ie
Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:24 UTC

© Unknown

Clonskeagh Mosque in Dublin

Protesters who attend a planned anti-Islam event outside Clonskeagh Mosque on Sunday are welcome to come in for a cup of tea, the Islamic Cultural Centre has said.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie today, Summayah Kenna, spokesperson for the centre, said they had been informed by members of their community about plans for a protest. "Like any protest we can't and we will not object," she said. "Everybody has a right to protest. All we can ask is that it goes off peacefully."

Plans for the protest have been circulating online, and it is said the event has been organised by an Irish anti-Islam group. A counter-event has also been organised by Anti-Imperialist Front Ireland.

Kenna said that the centre is busy at the weekends and that they "hope sincerely that things go as normal". "Any protesters are welcome to come in for a cup of tea," she said, adding that the centre, which is home to the mosque, is open to all.

She added that they are "not overly concerned", but will be "observant" while the protest is on. "Our hope is everything will go peacefully."

A garda spokesperson said:

We facilitate peaceful protests but we encourage organisers to liaise with the gardaí.

Comment: This is reminiscent of what a mosque in York, England, did in May 2013 during an English Defence League (EDL) protest. The mosque countered the protest with tea, biscuits and football:

A York mosque dealt with a potentially volatile situation after reports that it was going to be the focus of a demonstration organised by a far-right street protest movement - by inviting those taking part in the protest in for tea and biscuits. ...

...after members of the group accepted an invitation into the mosque, tensions were rapidly defused over tea and plates of custard creams, followed by an impromptu game of football.

Mohammed el-Gomati, a lecturer at the University of York, said: "There is the possibility of having dialogue. Even the EDL who were having a shouting match started talking and we found out that we share and are prepared to agree that violent extremism is wrong."