Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny shakes hands with US President Barack Obama in the White House last March (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Poll: Is it worthwhile for Ministers to travel abroad on Patrick’s Day?

Ministers will be travelling to America, Australia, Saudi Arabia and India – amongst others – for Patrick’s Day. Good way to promote Ireland? Or is it just a junket?

GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WILL be travelling around the world for St Patrick’s Day to promote Ireland abroad.

Ministers will travel to countries including America, Japan, Australia,Saudi Arabia, India, England and South Korea for trade missions, which the government says is a key part of its jobs strategy for 2013. However some critics have dismissed the trips as junkets which provide little return and cost a significant amount of money.

What do you think: Is it worthwhile for Ministers to travel abroad to promote Ireland on St Patrick’s Day?


Poll Results:

No (843)
Yes (296)

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
99 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Ronándustigh
    Favourite An Ronándustigh
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:33 AM

    Yes, lets just pretend there isn’t a problem within Islam at all.

    You’ll note i said ‘within’ not ‘with’ before the hand wringers get all offended.

    389
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TR909
    Favourite TR909
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:37 AM

    +1.

    134
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Burke
    Favourite John Burke
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:50 AM

    We need to completely separate church and state. Repeal blasphemy laws. It’s in that society you get the win and protection for everyone’s religion and believes. We should also identify the warped preacher and who funds their place of worship.

    164
    See 15 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spiderman_Irish
    Favourite Spiderman_Irish
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:58 AM

    John I understand what you are saying and I am sure you are right but there is a huge difference between the church in Ireland and the rising Islamic religion in Ireland and Europe. Huge!

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maitiu Ó Ciarba
    Favourite Maitiu Ó Ciarba
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:04 AM

    John I would remove it altogether it’s the great divider.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:12 AM

    CSO said 65000 Moslems and that’s probably a conservative figure given the ease of access to this country

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daddy De La Noche
    Favourite Daddy De La Noche
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:01 PM

    There’s problems within all religions, I think Catholicism has a lot too, I mean this country was a religious run state not so long ago, akin to Iran, Saudi Arabic etc

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Ronándustigh
    Favourite An Ronándustigh
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:05 PM

    Of course there is. There’s still an awful lot wrong with the Catholic church but this article is about Islam.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spiderman_Irish
    Favourite Spiderman_Irish
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:16 PM

    And by extension the book which Catholics believe in i.e the New Testament isn’t telling us how to lie, cheat, kill or steal to protect and further Christianity. It’s actually saying the opposite.

    In the war book if people actually read some of the 100 plus passages it clearly tells a true muslim how to be true and follow Muhamed in worshipping Allah. The old testament was often fired around by the clergy in Ireland but it had no basis in the church of Jesus. Meant to be respected but not used to abuse people.

    With Sharia their idea of freedom in subjecation and abuse as outlined in their book. Huge difference and not to be compared or viewed as equal to the many peaceful texts out there in the world today.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute VoiceOfVanguard
    Favourite VoiceOfVanguard
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:24 PM

    I can understand why Muslims take umbrage when asked to denounce terrorist outrages.
    To denounce that would accept the premise that, as a Muslim, you are somehow caught up in all of this.
    The difference, of course, is that, for example, the IRA murdered in the name of Irish republicanism, not Catholicism. Few people in Ireland thought that the former was an extension of the latter.
    Any priest who voiced support for terrorism, anywhere, would be excommunicated – so no one could credibly claim any overlap.
    Islam has no effective means of banning hate preachers, and now has a new breed of fanatics happy to murder in its name. The gunmen who massacred 12 journalists and their police protectors in Paris shouted “we have avenged the prophet”. Just as the murderers of Drummer Lee Rigby shouted “Allahu akbar”.
    You can argue (as many Muslims do) that this is an attack on Islam, a hideous distortion of a peaceful religion. But you cannot claim that there is no connection at all between Islam and the jihadi menace.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:30 PM

    ‘Akin to Saudi Arabia’ complete and utter horse$hite. The church obviously had too much power but compared to Saudi it was a liberal paradise

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute VoiceOfVanguard
    Favourite VoiceOfVanguard
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:35 PM

    Incidentally, in an updated assessment, the CSO reckoned the Muslim population in Ireland was more than 65,000 at the end of 2013. A jump of almost a third in only two years. None of the political parties has a single word to say on mass immigration, let alone a policy.
    Get ready.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wexford pikeman
    Favourite Wexford pikeman
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:03 PM

    Je suis Charlie. Ireland is a country of free speech, seems the only group wants to gag our culture is the muslim population, it says it all that they threaten publication of cartoons depicting their Diety with our Irish blasphemy law.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John R
    Favourite John R
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Daddy de la Noche, this State was never religiously run but was heavily influenced by religion and one church in particular. We were never akin to Saudi Arabia even in our darkest days. If you want to know what a religiously run State actually looks like go to Saudi Arabia where only the other day a young mother was executed by slow beheading (it took several blows of a sword and she lived through much of the torture) in public after being dragged to her death in front of a large crowd. Hyperbole and exaggeration only succeed in allowing truly vile States like Saudi Arabia to hide behind lesser offenders.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ten Major
    Favourite Ten Major
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 2:11 PM
    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Michael
    Favourite John Michael
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 4:21 PM

    It’s hard not to state their religious affiliation when they claimed they were “avenging the prophet” as they killed those people.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
    Favourite Lasair Aireáinnach
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 6:21 PM

    A few noises of pretend muslim condemnation because islam knows now there is a growing awareness among native Europeans they are under attack and being replaced because of mass-immigration.

    TAQQIYA – HOW TAQQIYA ALTERS ISLAMS RULES OF WAR
    In Shi’a Islam, taqiyya (تقیة taqiyyah/taqīyah) is a form of religious dissimulation, or a legal dispensation whereby a believing individual can deny his faith or commit otherwise illegal or blasphemous acts while they are in fear or at risk of significant persecution.
    http://www.meforum.org/2538/taqiyya-islam-rules-of-war

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
    Favourite Lasair Aireáinnach
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 7:09 PM

    VoiceOfVanguard
    The IRA were also on their home turf fighting for their occupied home turf. Muslims got into Ireland as foreigners and are 99.99% not native Irish.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:40 AM

    Station that newsagents shouldn’t provoke them?!?! you’d wonders why they came here in the first place if they were going to be”offended” by what publications an independent business sells. Welcome to the free west.

    270
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Protect Democracy!
    Favourite Protect Democracy!
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:23 AM

    I would advise all newsagents to stock this magazine as a sign of solidarity with the French people- if Muslims don’t like it fine,they don’t have to stay in Ireland. Live as we live in our country as we would have to live as you live in your country!

    179
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:23 AM

    Almost sounds like a threat doesn’t it? This is the free west not some crackpot Islamic dictatorship. If you don’t like the magazine don’t look at it. Simple really.

    165
    See 18 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Avina Laaf
    Favourite Avina Laaf
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:32 AM

    Of course they’re going to be referred to as islamic terrorists when islam was their entire motive and justification for carrying out their acts. In just the same way, crusaders are referred to as crusaders instead of just some random bunch of marauders who purely by chance happened to be christian.

    If they were bank robbers who happened to be muslim their religion may not have been referred to as it would be only incidental, but that’s clearly not the case here.

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:35 AM

    Buck your ignorance is astounding. First of all there are many many publications which are banned in our ‘free west’. Publications which do not incite hatred or crime but nevertheless cannot be bought in Irish newsagents because they are in some way or another ‘offensive’ to our society.

    And your assumption that ‘they’ came here only highlights your racism. Your ancestors came here at one point. And Ireland became predominantly catholic. Great. But what if one of those catholics, with catholic descendants and parents decided under his own free will as an adult to convert his religion to islam? What should he do? Should he now move abroad? Or should he stay and campaign to have his beliefs respected in a tolerant society? Or should he just accept that if he walks into a newsagent he may see material which is deeply offensive to his beliefs which may upset him and make him feel marginalised?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Francie Coffey
    Favourite Francie Coffey
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:40 AM

    ” acting outside the teachings of Islam.” – Bulls**t
    ” kill the non-Muslims where you find them ” – Koran
    ” even the trees & stones will shout, Oh Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, – come kill him ” – Koran.
    + 100 more violent verses calling muslims to attack, loot, kill, torture, rape the non-Muslim

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F.man
    Favourite F.man
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:44 AM

    “because they are in some way or another ‘offensive’ to our society.”

    And how many people need to be offended for something to be banned jon-boy55?

    Offensive to “our society”, what does that mean?

    Your opinion that certain types of expression should be banned will most likely be offensive to believers in free expression. Should your views be censored?

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Ahh the old ‘racist’ card. It didn’t take long for someone to break that out. Nevermind the reality that Islam is a religion rather then a race.

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:52 AM

    John boy – your attitude astounds me, you are atypical of the the Leftwing journal appeasers who bandy the term racist at every opportunity. By your statement you endorse the fact that we should slowly dismantle our cultural values to conform with a regressive, brutal ideology? There isn’t much hope for western civilisation if you are a typical representative of same.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:53 AM

    I don’t know F.man. Ask the censors. 20 years ago playboy was banned here. Times change. The way we are going views will be censored in the future and that’s not desirable.

    i actually don’t believe that some types of free speech should be banned. But i do believe that selective free speech causes problems. For example a few years ago a clothing advert depicting Jesus as a woman in france was banned by a court as it ‘offended peoples inner most beliefs’. But a picture of muhammed being buggered is ok? Let’s have all or nothing. Let’s not have free speech that protects certain groups and marginalises others.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F.man
    Favourite F.man
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:05 PM

    You are absolutely right jon-boy55, selective free speech is undesirable. And it should not be restricted by the level of offence that may result.

    Offence is emotional and irrational and has no basis in logic. Free speech encourages the competing of ideas through logic, rationalism and reasoned (exceptions will occur) debate.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:11 PM

    Buck, I didn’t ‘bandy’ anything. You assume that all muslims came here and ignore that fact that some are nationals born and bred here, while at the same time ignoring the fact that you also came here. Perhaps I’m wrong to call that racist but thats how i see it.

    I absolutely do not endorse any dismantling of our cultural values. But we are faced with a problem in our multi cultural societies today so we need a solution today! I have suggested a solution. What do you suggest? Because if I understand you correctly and take your argument through to conclusion, anyone who is non catholic who can’t live with being deeply offended when they go to buy a litre of milk should be deported?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:12 PM

    Have you got a link for that case John-boy?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:14 PM
    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:29 PM

    John boy, who mentioned anything about non Catholics or deportation??! Now you’re quoting me on statements I never made to validate your point it seems! That being said I’m pretty sure many of the individuals ‘offended’ by a satirical magazines presence in a newsagent were not born here and are free to move of their own fee will to a region where their ideology dominates.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:33 PM

    In any case jon it doesn’t change the fact that one of Charlie Hedbo’s biggest targets for lampooning was Christianity and the Catholic church in particular.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:47 PM

    Scipio, Charlie Hebdo was wrong. period. But the bbc article highlights some of the hypocrisy contributing to the christian/muslim war into which we are now being shepherded.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:15 PM

    Not really jon. That article refers to a public advertisement rather than a cartoon in a satirical political magazine.
    You’re hardly comparing like with like. If advertisers tried to use Muhammad in a similar context you can almost be certain they would prevented from doing so in a similar fashion.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:26 PM

    Perhaps. But its skating on thin ice imo.

    Peace will come – hopefully before we wipe ourselves off the planet

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid
    Favourite Diarmuid
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:33 PM

    Our (ridiculous) blasphemy laws apply to all religions, not just Islam.

    Do you support European laws outlawing the denial of the Holocaust Scipio?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ten Major
    Favourite Ten Major
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 2:27 PM

    Francie.
    ” even the trees & stones will shout, Oh Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, – come kill him ”is not a quote from the Koran, it is from a thing called the Hadith which is a collection of yearns. Shia muslims have their own different version, but sure hey they’re all the same aren’t they?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:34 AM

    “Never involved in illegal activities” What about the Halawa clan supporting the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt?

    198
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:26 AM

    Don’t you know by now? They were just on their hols and happened to blunder into a Muslim Brotherhood day of rage, where men were openly firing AKs into the air.
    It could happen to anybody.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:54 AM

    I know Scipio, something similar happened to me in in Santa ponsa once!

    57
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid
    Favourite Diarmuid
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:30 PM

    “Illegal” is a stretch! Supporting the democratically elected government only became “illegal” in Egypt when a minority military dictatorship seized power.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rkmr
    Favourite Rkmr
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:34 AM

    But they carried out the attacks because of and for their religion so how can it not be made about religion?

    179
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ten Major
    Favourite Ten Major
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 2:16 PM

    Ian Paisley did lots of nasty things in the name of Protestantism, should Protestants all over the world apologise or feel responsible for his acts?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Byrne
    Favourite Martin Byrne
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:47 AM

    The Islamic cultural centre are aggressively pushing their religion into our society,using a stupid blasphemy law as a weapon.

    I think Ireland and it’s large PC leftwing population need to wake up.

    166
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:13 AM

    The proposed ‘ Islamic Cultural Center ‘ in Clongriffen will be the first purpose-built ghetto in Ireland and will cater for the Wahhabi lot here, Sponsored by the Emir of Qatar, this bodes ill for us as Wahhabism discourages Muslim integration in the West but actively encourages jihad against non-Muslims. So what is it here for? If there is to be no integration then why are these people coming here in such numbers? Our European neighbours are not having a good experience in this ‘integration’ business.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Unfortunately
    Favourite Unfortunately
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:57 AM

    Tell me honestly just one good thing Islam brought to Europe. Everywhere they appear in larger number is cause a hassle now. Thumb me down all ye want, but these are just the facts…

    142
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F.man
    Favourite F.man
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:07 AM

    The numeral 0, Mathematics, Art, Architecture, Science etc.

    But that is hardly the point Unfortunately, the problem is that Islam has retreated into medievalism and wishes to suppress opposition to its creed and force Europe to abandon the Enlightenment.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:31 AM

    Within the last half a millenia.

    39
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Purcell
    Favourite Emmet Purcell
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Falafel is delicious.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ten Major
    Favourite Ten Major
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 3:33 PM

    Bit like the Romans then?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice Slater
    Favourite Maurice Slater
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 5:30 PM

    unfortunately I thumb you up.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
    Favourite Lasair Aireáinnach
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 7:05 PM

    F.man
    “Algebra may have been named after a book by al-Khwarizmi titled Al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah, but the origins of algebra itself can be traced to the ancient Babylonians who were able to do calculations in an algorithmic fashion.[62] Having something named after what popularised or refined it by no means makes it the inventor, and by doing so you would have to discount the works of mathematician Diophantus of Alexandria (200 and 214 AD–284 and 298 AD) who authored a series of books called “Arithmetica” and is commonly referred to as “the father of algebra”.

    Paul Vallely begrudgingly admits that the system of numbering in use all round the world is ‘probably’ Indian in origin, yet the title of the supposed Islamic invention still remains “The system of numbering”. The first known use of numbers dates back to around 30,000 BC, but it is universally accepted that the system of numbering we use today (the digits 0 to 9) was invented in India.[63][64] The reason why they are referred to as “Arabic” numerals in the West is due to them being introduced to the Europeans through the Arabs, who in the same way had earlier received them from the Hindus. Likewise, the Arabs themselves commonly refer to them as “Hindu numerals”.[65]

    The use of zero as a number is found in many ancient Indian texts. The concept of negative numbers was recognised between 100–50 BC by the Chinese. Greek and Indian mathematicians studied the theory of rational numbers. (The best known of these works is Euclid’s Elements, dated 300 BC. Euclid is also often referred to as the “Father of Geometry”.) The earliest use of irrational numbers is in the Indian Sulba Sutras (800–500 BC). The first results concerning transcendental numbers were made by Johann Heinrich Lambert in 1761. The earliest known conception of mathematical infinity appears in the Hindu text Yajur Veda (1,400 and 1,000 BC). The earliest reference to square roots of negative numbers were made by Greek mathematician and inventor Heron of Alexandria (10–70 AD). Prime numbers have been studied throughout recorded history. The mathematical branch of Trigonometry has been studied by the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, but it was the ancient Greeks who proved theorems that are equivalent to modern trigonometric formulae. And finally, the earliest known algorithms were developed by ancient Babylonians (1600 BC).[66][67][68][69][70] ”
    http://wikiislam.net/wiki/How_Islamic_Inventors_Did_Not_Change_The_World

    The rest of your list of islamic contributions follows along the same lies.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Stafford
    Favourite Joseph Stafford
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:01 AM

    We need to change the blasphemy law soon,before our women are walking around with bin bags over their heads,we can’t go to a Muslim country and walk around eating rasher sambos.. When in Rome do as Romans do!

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J
    Favourite J
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:27 PM

    Yeah, or crisp sandwiches.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Comerford
    Favourite Ray Comerford
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:06 AM

    The terrorist atrocity in Paris can never be justified regardless of what offence Charlie Hebdo caused. That is something that Muslims must accept if they choose to live in countries that are not Islamic. Catholics have to accept daily insults from the media and commentators in many countries but they do not go out on a rampage and attack others. On the other hand, the media should reflect on whether it is justified to be gratuitously offensive to different religions and their adherents. I am very much in favour of freedom of expression but also feel that those who have that privilege should act responsibly and with some sensitivity. Muslims must do more to integrate into Western societies and recognise that the rest of the world cannot be expected to adapt to their philosophy. That includes their treatment of women, their attacks on Christians and their churches in other countries, as well as their insistence on treatment of the Prophet as one on which no comment is tolerable.

    111
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Lyster
    Favourite Derek Lyster
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:11 AM

    Saying newsagents should not stock the magazine as it may provoke muslims sounds like a threat to me.This is Ireland,a christian country and if people don’t like the way we live and what we do then maybe this isn’t the country for them.

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tertullian
    Favourite Tertullian
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:42 AM

    There’s a simple solution for Muslims who may be offended by “Charlie Hebdo” – don’t buy the magazine. I see many publications on newsagents’ shelves that I find offensive ( “The Sun”, for example) but I simply don’t purchase them. I don’t try to track down an AK-47 and shoot the publishers.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Murphy
    Favourite Tony Murphy
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:13 AM

    So this gentleman is giving his opinion on the events and also the affect on his religious views through these events. So is exercising his right to free speech and to practice his chosen religion.

    But then advises or even condemns people not to engage in free speech if their opinion is in any way different to his own………..riiiighhht!!

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john clarke
    Favourite john clarke
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:56 AM

    The fact that were Muslim appears to be central to the ideology behind the terrorist attacks so that makes it fair comment. It is very similar to stating that the people behind the protests at the funerals of US soldiers do so because they are members of the Westbrook Baptist Church. That is the ideology that drives them. In much the same way that mainstream Christian community isolate such extreme preachers the main stream Muslim continue should continue to do the same to extreme clerics of the Muslim faith who preach hatred.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute dj dangermouse
    Favourite dj dangermouse
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:37 AM

    Religion sucks.Why can’t we all have fun.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jon-boy55
    Favourite jon-boy55
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 10:53 AM

    +10

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Crm Surveyor
    Favourite Crm Surveyor
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:25 AM

    They are criminals and terrorists but are motivated primarily by their religion: Islam. Jihad is specific to islam, it is not Delia’s cook book we see these torrorists read from as they justify their barbarities and call for recruits, it is the Koran. Therefore I think if a muslim commits terrorism in the name of his religion and justifies his actions by reading from the Koran, it is fair to call him a ‘muslim terrorist’. Perhaps our muslim friends should worry more about convincing their brethern that islam does not condone terrorism rather than worry about what we call those who commit vicious acts in the name of islam.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Snorre N Skalagrimmerson
    Favourite Snorre N Skalagrimmerson
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:27 AM

    Islam is the cancer of the west and this will only be cured by assimilation or repatriation no amount of appeasement will save the west from sharia madness.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oisín Ó Dubhsláine
    Favourite Oisín Ó Dubhsláine
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:38 AM

    They were Muslim. They did carry out a terrorist attack in the name of Islam. The people they killed in Charlie Hebdo were killed because of a direct result of their perceived insulting of the Muslim prophet Mohammed. The people in the kosher shop were targeted because they were Jewish. So it’s fair game to highlight the Islamic connection to terrorism.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tertullian
    Favourite Tertullian
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:32 AM

    ” They were criminals like any others- emphasising their faith is not helpful.” Rubbish. They weren’t criminal like any others – they were motivated by a deep Islamic fundamentalism (not that there is a liberal or enlightened Islam – it is essentially fundamentalist). You cannot possibly understand the terrorists without factoring in their faith. They regarded themselves as Muslims – as do the savages of the Islamic State – and denying it is just a lot of politically correct nonsense that fools nobody.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:15 AM

    The journal has attracted a lot of Islamofascist apparatchiks over the last few days , many of them seem to be applauding the recent attacks on our society but the reality of the situation is now clear to most decent people at last.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid
    Favourite Diarmuid
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Name one person who has “applauded” this terrorism. I call BS.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ten Major
    Favourite Ten Major
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 3:29 PM

    Uncle Mort the only fascists I see are Zionofascists like yourself who readily condemn 1.2bn people because of the actions of a few but jump to the defence of Israel’s bombing of the Gaza ghetto. Hasbara apologists like you and your far right pals are infecting debate throughout Europe with a poisonous agenda that is not in Ireland’s or Europe’s interest.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ptriley
    Favourite ptriley
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:27 AM

    Why are they coming here ? Is it the weather ?

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:47 AM

    From this very journal on Friday “RAIF BADAWI HAS had the second instalment of 50 lashes of his sentence of 1,000 postponed.
    He had been due to receive the second 50 of his 1,000 lashes today.
    His crime? Criticising senior religious figures in ultra orthodox Saudi Arabia.”

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Atticus the Accuser
    Favourite Atticus the Accuser
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:49 AM

    What a load of nonsense! Islam encroaches human rights! and the terror attacks are done in the name of religion by Radical Islamists Zealots.Their warped ideology comes from their religion.

    All religion are wrong in the same way as they favour faith over reason but they’re not all equally bad in the same way all the time.In the 1930s Catholicism was the most dangerous religion in the world because of it’s vopen alliance with facisim and antisemitism.

    However at the moment the most toxic form religion takes is the Islamic form.The horrible idea of wanting to end up with Sharia law with a religious governed state and the best means of getting that is Jihad and that Muslims have a special right to feel aggrieved enough to demand this.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cyril Butler
    Favourite Cyril Butler
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:11 PM

    Islamists dont seem to realise that articles like this do not help their cause. Muslims who actively wish to censor satire are not moderates. The Islamic Cultural Centre will breed extremists if they keep referring to things like blasphemy. It is 2015 and we are a democracy.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Madden
    Favourite Mick Madden
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:55 AM

    Pure Bulls..t it’s all about their religion

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damien Moran
    Favourite Damien Moran
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:14 PM

    Dr Ali Selim just stated that there are 70,000 Muslims in Ireland. He is running for election to represent them. What is the real figure 50 or 70?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:41 AM

    Maybe we should do the crusade thing again and convert all to christianity, but don’t mention christians we’ll just call it terrorism by an unknown group, yes that makes sense

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute My name is Declan
    Favourite My name is Declan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:20 AM

    Associating a person with terrorism just because that person is a Muslim would be like associating a person with the IRA just because that person is Irish. It is counter-productive, thoughtless, idiotic and unkind. However, it wasn’t the media or the public who emphasised the religion of the Kouachi brothers; it was the Kouachi brothers when they shouted “Allahu Akbar!” and “We have avenged our prophet.”

    One of the difficulties for good people who follow of Abrahamic religions is they seek a reason for their goodness in books that promote both good deeds *and* horrific deeds. A good person doesn’t get to regard a set of books as sacred, as the word of their god, but ignore the parts of those books that promote violence and then stand by while others follow those violent instructions and say: “That’s not what my religion teaches.” One can be a good person and deluded at the same time.

    The good person is justified in saying “Those terrorists have nothing to do with me”, but not in saying “Those acts have nothing to do with my religion.”

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
    Favourite Lasair Aireáinnach
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 6:59 PM

    Islam prescribes terrorism and has a mandate to conquer all for allah. IRA do not.

    Muslims are not indigenous Irish fighting for Irish soil. IRA were fighting for their own soil. It is your comparison that is off the wall.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Bullock
    Favourite Michael Bullock
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:28 AM

    a couple of hundred people across Ireland had the British army at their knees during the troubles.. they didnt represent the entire religion/nation and neither do these people represent their entire race/religion!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:34 AM

    The IRA were never trying to represent the religion in the first place.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid
    Favourite Diarmuid
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Even worse, they were trying to represent us all.

    9
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Bullock
    Favourite Michael Bullock
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 3:42 PM

    yeah because defending catholic areas and churches during the troubles was never an issue and swearing on the bible… Catholicism never had anything to do with it :-/

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Whelan
    Favourite Liam Whelan
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 8:16 PM

    Shops stock a fookin a magazine with cartoons “will provoke muslims”? Provoke them t o do what exactly? Try start yer fatwa here? Peaceful protests? Go and shite, the irish public are fearful of very little and I would love to isis try operate here!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Lang
    Favourite Anthony Lang
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:49 AM

    Terrorists who happen to be Islamic are motivated to engage in their proclaimed Jihads in the name of Allah not for religious purposes but for a variety of reasons, social alienation, disaffected individuals seeking some meaning in life, resentment of limited opportunity in Western society, cultural imperialism and manipulation by sinister preachers who are using religion for political purposes.

    The invasions of Iraq and the U.S. and Saudi alliance has aggravated the problem. The more extreme actions of Israel with Western military support have not helped.

    There are also psychological factors. Lost people can be seduced, not by the real ideals or aspiration of religions but the fundamentalist aspects of that religion can appeal, briniging a structure and a certainty which provides an anchor in their lives.

    For these reasons and because the vast and overwhelming majority of the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world live respectfully, peacefully and even positively with other faiths and even with atheists, I’m unconvinced that Islam is to blame. I think that Islam provides a very convenient flag for political and other agendas but I don’t see Islam as the prime motivator.

    It makes no sense to allow the creation of a false opposition between Islam and the West. Creating and encouraging a hostile dichotomy and opposition between Islam and the West will actually serve the terrorist agenda. It will encourage the rise of Western extremism and aggression towards the Muslim minority in the west and Muslims will become increasing alienated and a seed bed for responsive terrorism as a result. We will just move towards a zero sum game of violence and counter violence.

    Of course the actual terrorists, as distinct from their manipulative masters and string pullers, think that they are on a divinely rewarded Jihad but we have now seen enough unequivocal condemnation and denial from official Islam to know that this is untrue.

    It is understandable that many people sincerely believe that the problem is Islam and it is correct that there are aspects of Islamic teaching which allow its dogmas to be hijacked for political purposes. But the primary problem is not Islam or its adherents. The problem is a potent combination of social, cultural and geo-political considerations.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scipio
    Favourite Scipio
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:10 PM

    What is ‘official Islam’ anyway? Saudi Arabia the home of the holiest shrines? Where they behead people for sorcery?

    The fact is if you drew these cartoons in most Islamic countries you would end up at best in jail at worst on the hangman’s gallows or the chopping block.
    These blasphemy laws stem from the Islamic Sharia, the basis for law-making in most Islamic countries.The problem is very obviously Islam itself.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:16 PM

    Before Afghanistan, Iraq etc kicked off I had the nasty experience of Islamic ‘peace and love’ at the hands of the Mutaween in Saudi Arabia. Other Islamic countries were almost as bad so the ‘social, cultural and geo-political considerations’ are nonsense. The social problems supposedly suffered by ‘Islam’ arose in recent years as they failed to integrate into any of the European countries now facing the problems of violence.

    “Speaking to the NewsHour current affairs programme just hours after the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, Mayor Aboutaleb became angered by the failure of some Muslims to adapt to their new homes, as he himself had done.

    Mayor Aboutaleb said: “It is incomprehensible that you can turn against freedom… But if you don’t like freedom, for heaven’s sake pack your bags and leave.

    “There may be a place in the world where you can be yourself, be honest with yourself and do not go and kill innocent journalists. And if you do not like it here because humorists you do not like make a newspaper, may I then say you can f*** off.

    “This is stupid, this so incomprehensible. Vanish from the Netherlands if you cannot find your place here. All those well-meaning Muslims here will now be stared at”.

    The mayor is a former journalist and was born in Morocco “

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
    Favourite Lasair Aireáinnach
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 6:37 PM

    Don’t listen to radical muslims they are extremists, they do not represent real Islam, here are the normal down-to-earth good neighbours muslims:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61KsT5YixF0

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 11:19 AM

    There will always be extreme adherents to religious beliefs who interpret literally what was written over a thousand years ago and is now out of context. Why not see that different religions and faith systems are but different paths to what comes after death? If religion did not previously exist it would have been invented in its different guises born of different interpretations of what happens after we die. Because of this vital interpretation of what happens after death each religion claims to be exclusively right particularly when it meets another religion which also claims to be exclusively right. For some religions this excludes the possibility of co-existing in the presence of other religions that are seen as the “competition”. This then becomes a siege mentality leading to exaggerated over reactions by religious extremists like Brevnick in Norway and Muslims in ISIL, Sikhs/Hindis (leading to partition of India/Pakistan). For Islam it appears to be a militant form of apostolic endeavour. However for all religions death levels the playing pitch, and death by martyrdom gains a form of certain reward. When religions compete and collide the concept of leading a good life fades into the background bringing into focus a system of compensation for having lead a bad life for example the granting of partial and plenary indulgences in Catholicism. The concept of forgiveness is necessary to gain eternal salvation and this is conveniently forgotten by religious extremists.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn OKane
    Favourite Éamonn OKane
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 12:48 PM

    Voice of vanguard the years quoted 1991-2011 slightly more than two years a growth c4000 a year

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Ball
    Favourite Alan Ball
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 1:06 PM

    Yes it is wrong too..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jan 18th 2015, 6:03 PM

    The media is bias and uses this to sell airspace or any space for advertising. It is about money and sometimes politics, take the news website of sky, no one can say that the Ukraine government are ethnically cleansing E. Ukraine on that site or that they are paramilitary units with Nazi symbols on their uniforms but other news sites allow this and reports these stories. Look at the world leaders in Paris, that was a publicity stunt, busy waving at crowds that didn’t exist…
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/paris-march-tv-wide-shots-reveal-a-different-perspective-on-world-leaders-at-largest-demonstration-in-frances-history-9972895.html

    The fact is Muhammad’s face is very offensive to be shown in ANY form to Muslims but no one gets that because the attacks became a story about free speech but when has free speech been ok to use to offend people. People allow the media to tell them what to believe rather than finding out the facts for themselves, is it laziness or just accepting news that agrees with what you already believe, I do not know but there are always 2 or even 3 sides to a story and the third always seems to be the truth? Another fact is that it is never ok to kill over any belief unless that belief itself will cause murder or harm in the same way as what the nazis did in the 20th century. But killing people over a cartoon is in itself crazy and that is a fact. But people normally get a bit of a story, hear some words from it and ignore the rest and then paint everything with the same brush before they create this in a form of gossip to pass onto their friends…

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds