The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) today issued a statement condemning “in the strongest possible terms the disgusting racist campaign being waged” against a People before Profit candidate in the local elections.
Memet Uludag, a candidate for Castleknock, Dublin 15, has said a number of his campaign posters have been defaced after he noticed pieces of bacon attached to them on May 1st.
“When I spotted the objects on my election posters, I had a closer look,” he said. “I was shocked with what I saw. Knowing from incidents in other countries, this was clearly racially motivated vandalism.”
The IAWM said more than 70 of Mr Uludag’s posters have been “destroyed or removed”, while there has also been photographing or filming of Mr Uludag and his team while erecting posters “in a manner designed to intimidate”.
Spokesman John Molyneux said: “We are of course totally opposed to racism and Islamophobia in all its forms. The fact that Memet is a long-standing supporter of the Irish Anti-War Movement and a member of our steering committee only adds to our indignation and to our solidarity with him at this time.”
A statement issued on behalf of the Socialist Party also condemned the vandalism. “We totally condemn the racist vandalism of some election posters of Memet Uludag, a candidate for the local elections in the Castleknock ward,” said the statement.
“This sort of racist act is reprehensible and sinister. It has no support whatsoever within the local community. Racism divides working class people and must be challenged at every turn.”
