A chara, – On Friday last, the same day as the terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait and France, I had the privilege of attending an event organised by the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council at the Islamic Centre in Coolmine in Dublin.
The gathering was attended by the iman from the centre, and by representatives from the Church of Ireland and of the Buddhist community in Ireland (I myself was born into the Roman Catholic tradition).
The guest of honour was Tomi Reichental, holocaust survivor, who was also celebrating his 80th birthday on that day.
The event was uplifting and inspiring as the iman spoke of love, the commonality of mankind and the utter rejection by the vast, vast majority of Muslims of the extremist views and actions of Isis and al-Qaeda.
He spoke of the Koran’s teachings on acceptance and respect for people of other faiths and traditions, and of its rejection of violence against innocent people.
Mr Reichental spoke of his experience as a 10-year-old in a Nazi concentration camp. He warned of the danger of history repeating itself if hate, mistrust and misunderstanding gain the upper hand.
On a terrible day which saw the tragic deaths of 38 innocent people in Tunisia and more in France and Kuwait, all credit is due to the iman and his council for organising this event and for reaching out and encouraging understanding between faiths at a time when the headline stories only serve to increase suspicion and mistrust. – Yours, etc, GARY DOYLE Straffan, Co Kildare.