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THE US GOVERNMENT asked its Irish embassy to compile a profile of a Dublin-based Muslim think tank, according to one of the latest embassy cables published by WikiLeaks.
The Bush administration asked its Dublin embassy to evaluate whether the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) was trying to have Sharia law recognised in Europe.
The cable, written in July 2006 by then-US ambassador James Kenny, was addressed to then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and copied to other embassies in Europe and the Middle East.
It details how Washington asked its Dublin embassy to answer a series of questions on whether Irish-based groups like the ECFR, which is headquartered in Clonskeagh at the mosque of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland, were trying to introduce Sharia law.
The ECFR is chaired by Qatar-based Egyptian cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, 84, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the embassy told Washington. He is now better known for the conservative views shared on his weekly talk show on Al-Jazeera.
Among al-Qaradawi’s controversial views are that homosexuality is punishable by death, and that “lightly” beating one’s wife is permissible if all other means of persuasion have proven unsuccessful. Al-Qaradawi is considered a high-ranking leader within the Muslim Brotherhood’s intellectual movement.
The US was apparently concerned that the ECFR and similar groups were trying to force greater legal recognition for Islamic Sharia law in Western Europe, fearing that such laws were not compatible with democracy.
Ambassador James Kenny wrote that the ECFR was not a “proselytising body”, and was instead attempting to become a European authority on how Islamic law should be interpreted by Muslims living in Europe. He described it as little more than a “paper tiger”, with no real authority to implement its guidelines, and no full-time staff.
However, three officers of the ICCI – including its Imam, Hussein Halawa - were working on its behalf, Kenny added.
The cable suggests that the views of other Muslim leaders and journalists on the roles of Halawa and al-Qaradawi were sought by the embassy.
Some of the more moderate leaders – most significantly Ali al-Saleh, who leads a congregation of around 250 Iraqi Shi’a Muslims in Milltown – believed Halawa and other leaders of the ICCI were members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Having spoken with al-Saleh and others about Halawa, Kenny concluded:
It is doubtful that he, [another senior ICCI official Ali] Saleem, or others suspected of MB [Muslim Brotherhood] involvement operate independently of some informal conservative Islamic or MB hierarchy.
Kenny cites the advice of one unnamed journalist, who said the Muslim Brotherhood was stronger in Ireland than anywhere in the world outside of Qatar, and that al-Qaradawi “runs Islam in Ireland”.
Some integrationist Islamic teachers claimed that Halawa owed his position as Imam to the Dubai-based Maktoum family, which funded the construction of the Clonskeagh facility but takes “little or no attention” to its operations. They also believed that Halawa served “at the pleasure of al-Qaradawi”.
The cable adds that the smaller mosque on the South Circular Road is more radical, and is known in the Muslim community as the ‘Tora Bora’ mosque for its high population of Afghan and Bosnian Jihadists.
The Blackpitts mosque in Dublin’s south inner city – sponsored by Pakistani academic and former Progressive Democrat local elections candidate Mazhar Bari – was meanwhile named by Kenny as a “suspected… gathering place for some radical elements within the Pakistani community”.
Dublin was also asked to provide profiles of “groups and individuals who promote a clearly pluralist, tolerant form of political Islam in Europe”, looking to identifying individual Muslim leaders with whom the embassy could spread a pro-US message among Ireland’s Muslim communities.
The memo implies a need for greater liaison between the US and al-Saleh and his Milltown mosque, who had concluded in conversations with the embassy that “you can’t have Islam without democracy”.
Though al-Saleh had little experience dealing with the media or Irish government – whose dealings with the Muslim community apparently stretched no further than Halawa – the embassy said it had been helping him gain greater prominence.
Kenny wrote that he was heartened by a ghost-written “positive” opinion piece, published in al-Saleh’s name by the Irish Times a few months before the memo was written.
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Three serious looking men. Could we ask them to head up our negotiations with the troika ?;-)
Insert standard anti-American statements here
United States of Attackingothercountries
They don’t make small marines do they.
Anyone else think its strange that Neil Armstrong dies the same week Lance Armstrong lost his medals
So kind of anti-Armstrong patriarchy group out there
Silly boy. Trying to start another consiracy theory. By the way most navies (including our own) have guns on their ships, swords aren’t much good these days.
They find Oil of the Coast of Cork and the next thing you know a bunch of US marines arrive. Coincidence? I think not!
Why do they have a Mini gun? who is going to attack them?
No one will… beacause they have a mini gun
Carlsberg don’t do idiots……….but if they did!
My tongue is firmly in my cheek guys.
Don’t be ridiculous…typically anti American nonsense
I don’t believe you Conor, I think you should be hung for your Anti-American stance, USA, USA, USA……
I was wondering why it was called a “mini-gun” when it seems to be anything but; wikipedia has clarified for me:
The “Mini” of the name is in comparison to designs that use a similar firing mechanism but larger shells, such as General Electric’s earlier 20 mm M61 Vulcan, and “gun” referencing the delineation between a cannon, that of a caliber higher than 20 millimeters—and gun—within certain ranges.
…so it should be called mini-cannon or big-gun, idieally. Doesn’t sound as cool I suppose.
I hope they brought locks for them tanks of theirs. They’ll be gone in the mornin if they’re not careful!
Those lads are going to have…the absolute craic!
Doesn’t their green camoflauge blend right in with the grey battleship…..
Doesn’t their green camoflauge blend right in with the grey battleship…..?
If they want camouflage in Dublin, they should try Burberry and Adidas
Back in the states the Marines call Ireland a socialist nanny state. Ask them why there are 45 million Americans without healthcare when the US can spend 388 Billion for a new fleet of fighter planes. Ask them why America is the world’s biggest arms exporter. Ask them why children and women are being killed by drone strikes in Pakistan every day. This is a great opportunity to raise their consciousness.
Really, all 201,000 active members of the US Marine Corps have the exact same political views?
Ask them yourself. As they take the orders and not make the orders I’m sure you will be wasting your time. Let us know how you get on.
I doubt they have much views on anything, David. They’re people of very low intelligence who need other people to tell them what to do and what to think, every moment of their waking day, or else they’re doing something wrong.
Hence the military welcomes them with open arms.
@Ned Stark, how dare you call anyone who joined the Marines too incompetent to build their own future, some members of the Corps come from some of the poorest, most deprived parts of the states. They could have turned to crime or live on welfare for the rest of their lives but they desided that they wanted more then that for themselves and their families so they took the only option open to them and enlisted.
If you have a problem with the US blame its leaders not its armed forces, who given the choice, would rather not be sent into harm’s way.
“They could have turned to crime” – Surely murder is a crime?
“given the choice, would rather not be sent into harm’s way.” – Why join the army in the first place then?
Well they joined the Marine Corps, not the army, but I’d assume it would be for the same reason most people take a job, they need the money and as for the murder remark, murder is the unjustified killing of another, I think the other fella trying to kill you is a pretty good justification.
People throw around the word murder around too often when they talk about war, it totally degrades the meaning of the word when actions are taken that actually constitute murder.
Narrow minded comments from people who’s country never had to deal with the loss of their loved ones in far off lands. People join the military forces for various reasons, but to regard them as murderers is ridiculous.
Ask them yourself Dermot in fact tip on down there to the McHenry and ask those three guys in the pictures… I’m sure they’ll give you some form of answer
I think the answer would sound something line this …. Duh?
Vincent, a number of the Irish Defence Forces have returned to these shores in boxes while serving abroad on peacekeeping missions.
As for the level of intelligence of the US armed forces, many of the people serving there are those who are trying to go to third level education but cannot afford to do so. The US military contributes generously towards that and your spot is held for when you return from duty. Plenty of our best and brightest would do the same if the IDF paid full tuition fees. So to say they are all mindless idiotic drones is in itself a mindless idiotic comment.
Few years ago two pals of mine went on holiday to Crete. Half way through pint 2 a huge US carrier appears in the bay. As they count boat after boat full of young marines coming ashore they realised all hope of a ride that weekend just went straight out the window, probably the same in Dublin tonight haha
America, F**k yeah!!!
When did they give the tix away for this?
Go Navy…
In the navy….
Great to see!
Why? Honest question.
Their camouflage is poor. Your boat is grey sillies!
Their camo is for being on land not on a boat! Idiot
Who invited those war mongering feckers to my country, get them out now.
Sorry I didn’t realise this was your country. ;-) What are you going to do to get us out of the mess we are in.
^^^ What he said!! ^^^
The founder of the us navy was John Barry, a proud Wexford man.
Welcome back lads.
Anyway, get them out yourself, they have a MINIGUN!!!
Sounds like it would be a better idea to get you out
This picture gives you a better idea of the scale of the ship, you can see the CH-46 Sea Knights on the deck. Beautiful: http://262.ie/PShdHw
Good pic Dan. Cheers.
This one is only a baby…
How come there is no story about the Russian destroyer visiting Cork? Be good to have an example of the double standard in the comments section on this site when it comes to the US.
I believe it was reported last summer when their submarine was docked in Dublin.
How about balance – any pics of the Notre Dame supporters :) Oh and why did they need to unload their APC’s? The Luas runs as far as the Point :D
They look like they’re expecting trouble.
Wow nice censorship, journal staff. Saying I don’t welcome another country’s forces warrants deletion?
The standards on this site drip lower every day.
Hi Ned,
The comment wasn’t deleted because of saying somebody was/wasn’t welcome. You made other remarks that, given a number of individuals are identified in the above images, could be potentially libellous and were deleted as per our comments policy.
Susan
Ned why not go down and protest if it bothers you that much.
Ah so positive comments only?
What a site of balance and fairness. No wonder it’s so well regarded :)
And why adopt the name of a character created by a proud American?
Ha Ned on his high horse got owned.
Everyone I know with a smartphone uses the journal.ie, so yeah Ned, it is well regarded!! Valid point!
Jesus Ned, they are just trying to protect themselves from a lawsuit. Relax there mate. Other forums have to adopt the same policy. Grow up.
Ned, you have shown your ignorance.
Yeah I’m sure the soldiers involves are going to read this article, it’s comments and then take offence to generalised and indirect comments and go talk to their lawyer. Really credible threat there.
Chris, I would only it might attract the illegal US drones over here and kill a bunch of innocent people as they do every day elsewhere.
Nuffsaid, that’s not really reflective of anything to be honest. The most read “news” source in the world is the daily mail website and yet it’s journalism isn’t well regarded by, well, anyone with a decently functioning brain.
It doesn’t matter who the comment is about. At the end of the day it could be potentially libellous and thus it was deleted. Not that difficult to comprehend.
You’re complaining about journalistic standards yet you make the classic mistake of calling members of the USMC soldiers, look if you don’t like the Journel.ie, I thinks Pars has a website that would more to your taste.
Ned the journal are always at that deleting factual comments
@Steve If you don’t like the policy or the practice, don’t use the site. (quite simple)
Any hint of rationality sends the staff flying for the delete button.
If it does not suit the agenda, which is posting articles that amount to “look everyone, look what the government are doing today!” and getting the resident anti–everything crew riled up from the start of the day until they end, it gets binned.
Anti–government articles and stuff nicked off Reddit from days ago.
It is the Boards.ie After Hours of the Irish media.
Ned: the arbiter of “rationality”. Classic!
I wonder will our custom officers inspect the ship, lke they do with all other ships.
I’d say they inspect the big gun on the deck, from a distance.
Bye Ned. Send us all a postcard. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Who rattled your cage bud? If you dont like, then don’t read.
I can’t figure out if you’re a troll or not Ned! (???)
Be a raving lunatic and call people retarded very adult like of you there!
have your say