Dublin City Interfaith Forum Condemns Discriminatory Comment by Michael O’Leary
For Immediate Release
22nd February, 2020
The Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) condemns unreservedly, and with one unified voice, the recent discriminatory comments made by Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary.
Racial and religious profiling condemns and tarnishes a whole community for the actions of a few, and is by its very nature racist and discriminatory.
O’Leary’s comments suggesting that Muslim males should be singled out by security at airports only serves to fuel an atmosphere already rife with unjustified anti-Islamic feeling and Islamphobia.
Mr O’Leary is feeding an ugly and growing reality of racism in Irish life with his comments; and considering that they come on foot of a racist and murderous incident in Germany only offers a wider context to his comments that make them even more reprehensible.
The DCIF calls on all public persons with an audience for their words and statements to moderate their language, and to be mindful of the harm that they can do with careless and racist comments.
There is no place for the kind of racist and inflammatory language used by O’Leary in civilised public life. The DCIF hopes that he will reflect and learn from this shameful incident, and make some kind of real gesture to indicate that he has learned from his careless speech.
In the current climate, it is more important than ever that the kind of language and opinions voiced by O'Leary are challenged, condemned and widely acknowledged as being unacceptable.
The DCIF would like to take this opportunity to offer our support and solidarity to our Irish Muslim brothers and sisters at this time, and to all the fine Muslim citizens that count Ireland as their home.
The DCIF will never remain silent in the face of such racism and bigotry.
ENDS...
For further information or to organise interviews, please contact:
Mr. Adrian Cristea at [email protected] or (01) 5677174 or 083 8003345.
Notes For Editors:
Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) is a network of people from the different Faith
Communities in the City of Dublin. It aims to create awareness and dialogue through building
relationships that nurture harmony and deepen understanding and respect.
The World Faiths currently present and active in Dublin City and represented on DCIF are:
Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
DCIF works with interested members of faith communities to deliver interfaith gatherings and
activities in Dublin City. Recognising the diverse nature of the backgrounds of the residents
of Dublin, DCIF seeks to provide the space and opportunity for Faith Communities to build
relationships with and between Dublin City communities, statutory and voluntary
organisations and the residents of Dublin City.
