‘This is not what Tallaght is about’ following alleged attack

“THIS is not what Tallaght is about.”

This was the message delivered at a protest meeting attended by about thirty people on Monday evening in Tallaght.

The meeting was called by Le Chéile in response to the alleged assault on Dr Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri, the Chief Imam of the Islamic Centre Ireland in Tallaght last Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting Paul Murphy, TD for Dublin South-West read out a statement from Dr Al-Quadri, who was unable to attend the meeting as he was still recovering from the alleged assault, according to Mr Murphy.

The People Before Profit – Solidarity TD also wished Dr Al-Quadri a speedy recovery.

Dr Al-Quadri said that he was willing to communicate with and forgive the perpetrators of the assault and that his commitment to peace and integration remains and that his mission was “to foster understanding in our communities”.

“He also assured that the Gardaí are investigating the matter.

Dr Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri

“He also thanked people who had offered support in the aftermath of the attack and that their words had “touched his heart”.

He said that he felt the love and compassion of the Irish community.

Councillor Leah Whelan (Solidarity) said that “there is no place for division and racism in our community” and that the Far Right have hooked on to the housing and health crisis.

She said that the housing crisis was caused by successive governments and the solution to it was not by putting the blame on refugees.

“The Far-right are organising, we need to do the same,” she said.

Mr Murphy was also critical of the Far Right who he said were casting doubt on whether the attack was racist.

“It’s important to call out racist violence when we see it,” he said.

“We have to take a stand to defend the rights of anyone attacked in such a way,” he added.

He said that the Far-Right take the anger that people feel about “actual issues” and point that anger at those who are “also victims of those crises”.

Mr Murphy said that it was hoped that there would be a meeting in the next week or so to organise a group in the Dublin Southwest area.

“We need to come together in Dublin South-West,” he said.

Speaking to The Echo afterwards he said that it was “a mistake” to create a two-tier asylum system, between Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian applicants.

“This demonises non-Ukrainian asylum seekers,” he said.

“We should be treating everyone humanely,” he added.

Kay Keane, local People Before Profit candidate for Tallaght South said that when she went out on Saturday and canvassed the area the majority were “shocked” at the alleged assault.

Paula Gilligan, from Drogheda but who has been living in Tallaght for 22 years, also attended the meeting.

“When you’re walking around Tallaght it’s really, genuinely a cosmopolitan place, very relaxed.

“I hate to hear of anyone assaulted in that manner, it’s just disgusting,” she said.

Dr Al-Quadri has said that he was assaulted by two individuals with whom he had arranged to meet on February 15.

He also posted on X, formerly known as Twitter that he spent the night of February 15 in hospital.

Dr Al-Qadri, who reported severe swelling to the left side of his face and damage to his front teeth, posted on Sunday that he was feeling much better.

He has also posted that his focus now is on his recovery. Le Chéile is an organisation formed in 2020 to tackle the rise of the far right in Ireland.