Legacy of past hangs over anti-immigrant violence in Northern Ireland
"Sectarianism and racism have never been very different from each other," said Dominic Bryan, a professor at Queens University Belfast who researches group identity and political violence.
"It doesn't totally surprise me that as society changes and Northern Ireland has become a very different society than it was 30 years ago, that some of this 'out grouping' shifts," Bryan said, adding such prejudices could also be seen among Irish nationalists.
Immigration has historically been low in Northern Ireland, where the years of conflict bred an insular society unused to assimilating outsiders.
There are other factors at play too, said Bryan. The towns involved all have big economic problems, sub-standard housing and rely on healthcare and industries such as meat packing and manufacturing that need an increasing migrant workforce.
"The people around here, they're literally at a boiling point," said Ballymena resident Neil Brammeld. The town's diverse culture was welcomed and everybody got along, he said, but for problems with "a select few".
"The people have been complaining for months and months leading up to this and the police are nowhere to be seen."
While around 6% of people in the province were born abroad, with those belonging to ethnic minority groups about half that, the foreign-born population in Ballymena is much higher, in line with the UK average of 16%.
Northern Ireland does not have specific hate crime legislation, though some race-related incidents can be prosecuted as part of wider laws.
Justice minister Naomi Long pledged last year to boost the existing provisions but said the power-sharing government would not have enough time to introduce a standalone hate crime bill before the next election in 2027.
While five successive nights of violence mostly came to an end on Saturday, the effects continue to be felt.
"I'm determined I'm not going to be chased away from my home," said Ivanka Antova, an organiser of an anti-racism rally in Belfast on Saturday, who moved to Belfast from Bulgaria 15 years ago.
"Racism will not win."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
As a nation, we need to choose partners over politics
Two-faced Eskom punishes solar users Eskom is so much part of our lives. Homes and industries are heavily reliant on it for their power and lights, but in recent years it has become inefficient, corrupt and plundered by the greedy, often leaving the country without power. Many businesses and homes have been forced to seek alternative sources of power. Most popular of these is solar power. Although the sun's energy is clean and free, harnessing it to power our homes and industries comes at a hefty initial outlay. But as more and more homes and businesses ditch Eskom and switch to solar power, Eskom has been getting worried because fewer customers means less revenue. To offset this, it wants to punish customers who have went solar. They must be registered with Eskom and pay a fee either upfront and/or a monthly basis. How nasty can Eskom be, to punish consumers who have opted for an alternative source of energy when this problem is of its own doing? What is even more alarming is its 'gift' to Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay. The giant aluminium company enjoys a roughly R10-billion-a-year discount, amounting to R92bn over the 10-year deal. How could the power utility grant an industrial company a discount when it is struggling to stay afloat? It doesn't make sense to punish the solar user but give a R92bn discount to Hillside! Eskom is two-faced, just like the government. | Thyagaraj Markandan Kloof The world is on a very slippery slope When good men do nothing, evil flourishes, is a fairly common quote most commonly attributed to Edmund Burke, an 18th-century Irish statesman and philosopher (although it's more likely a paraphrase of some of his writings). This is exactly what we see unfolding in the world. The recent genocidal activities by brutal Islamic Jihadi groups in Syria paint a grim picture of the sheer ignorance, hypocrisy and depravity of those who only seem to care about 'Palestinians' or what is going on in Gaza! Dissturbing clips, which are not AI generated, show demonic radical Islamists gleefully displaying decapitated heads. I understand this is very graphic to even imagine, but it is happening right now, and the world remains silent. Druze communities, along with some Christians, are subjected to the most heinous acts, but the world only condemns Israel for its efforts to deal with terrorism, while also fighting a major PR war, funded by the likes of George Soros and the UN. The more we see mobs around the world displaying the Palestinian flag, yelling death to Jews and America while our people stay silent in the face of what's happening in Syria, the more I come to the conclusion that we are in deep trouble as a global community. The lack of coverage for Christians being martyred and slaughtered like animals by what can only be described as barbaric, bloodthirsty Jihadist psychopaths is disturbing. Why is Naledi Pandor, the eloquent, yet self-righteous, former minister of foreign affairs not condemning this? Well, it's easy to understand why: She simply doesn't care about being brainwashed and used as useful idiots for Iran and its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah!. Another very worrisome issue, is the issue of lack of consent when it comes to unelected organisations, such as the World Economic Forum and the World Health organisation, and vaccines or medical treatment. During the Covid-19 fiasco, we saw global leaders take the stage and demand that we all wear masks and be vaccinated, without allowing for any public debate, alternative medicinal ideas or without listening to extreme concerns from the public with regards to the impact of lock downs on mental health and the irreversible side effects of the vaccines they hurriedly produced. Again, why are we not speaking up about these scary issues? Are we too tired to care, or are we scared of being cancelled or publicly shamed by the pro-Palestine mobs or the vaxxers, who call us the anti-vaxxers, or conspiracy theorists? If we continue down this path of ignorance, sticking our heads in the sand like ostriches while the world falls apart, we won't have much to leave for our children and grand-children, It's all coming apart at the seams. Who will stand up and resist all this evil? | L Oosthuizen Durban ANC fails as it slides into political oblivion The unbelievable view expressed by Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that electricity is becoming a luxury (IOL, July 22) should mark another milestone in the terminal descent of the ANC into political oblivion. Those milestones are in the ANC's much-revered Freedom Charter. But, one by one, the ANC has failed them. ■ 'There shall be work and security' Instead, joblessness has become the norm under the ANC. Rampant crime has made insecurity another norm as the police service has become impotent and corrupt. ■ 'There shall be houses and comfort; no one shall go hungry' Instead, homelessness, hunger, malnutrition and informal settlements are hallmarks of the ANC's tenure. Now with electricity at unaffordable prices – when it is available – cold comfort is the norm for millions.. ■ 'The people shall share in the country's wealth' Instead, unprecedented levels of impoverishment prevail, attested to by the dependence of 20 million on social grants. Instead, an elite enjoys obscene levels of affluence, while large tranches of our resources are now foreign owned. ■ 'All shall be equal before the law' Flouting the law does not apply to those in high office. Instead they are allowed to 'step aside' or be redeployed within the corrupt party which prioritises party loyalty above respect for the law and 'the will of the people". ■ 'The colour bar shall be abolished' Under B-BBEE and racial quotas the colour bar has been reinstated and reinforced in ways far more discriminatory than under apartheid .■ 'The government shall encourage national talent for the enhancement of life' Instead, education standards have plummeted and the best talents have emigrated. To cap it all, the ANC has totally reneged on and failed its own election slogan: 'A better life for all.' In a normal society there would be overwhelming public pressure for a government that has failed so profoundly to resign. But instead, the ANC seeks a diversion in the form of a 'national dialogue' in an attempt to keep itself in power. For how much longer and how much further will this fiasco be allowed to continue? | DR DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff Choose partnership over politics It's rare to speak from the heart without backlash, but South Africa remains a troubled country. Crime, corruption, and unemployment prevails, while government leaders promote a R700-million National Dialogue, yet fail to act against the corrupt in their own ranks. Ordinary South Africans want renewal through peaceful evolution to a united, prosperous nation. But our political leadership chooses self-sabotage, jeopardising key relationships, such as our government's pursuit of an ICJ case against Israel, souring relations with a natural ally whose values and strengths mirror our own. Israel and South Africa are both beacons of democracy, rooted in Judeo-Christian values. South Africa's transition from apartheid and Israel's resilience offer beneficial lessons in reconciliation, innovation, and economic development. While Israel has emerged as a global leader in tech, water security, and food innovation, we remain stuck with dysfunctional government departments and poor service delivery. Israel reclaims 86% of wastewater, leads in desalination, and boasts low unemployment, even amid conflict. In contrast, South Africa's official unemployment rate sits at 32.9%. Why reject potential partnerships that could uplift our economy and society? Voters denied any party a majority in 2024, a clear sign they reject our country's current trajectory, yet the government pours more funds into the ICJ case, despite no genocide ruling. This isn't leadership. It's political ideology that undermines our future. We need pragmatic diplomacy that puts South Africans first. Israel is not our enemy. It can be our greatest ally. It's time to choose partnership over politics. | Daniel Jacobi Executive Director at the South African Friends of Israel Beat app fatigue and earn your space Every year, over 250 000 mobile apps are launched across Apple and Google's app stores. Yet average smartphone users interact with only nine apps per day. WhatsApp is almost always one of them, boasting over 2.8 billion users globally and a 93% penetration rate in South Africa. Despite this, companies continue to invest in standalone apps that most users simply avoid, or delete after a single use. This growing app fatigue demonstrates ineffective business strategies that are disconnected to the customer behavioural economy of today, and refuses to meet customers where its most convenient for them. Enter WhatsApp smartbots. These AI-powered chat interfaces are fundamentally reshaping how brands engage consumers by offering numerous services: Like buying tickets, applying for loans, or searching for properties, all within the familiar WhatsApp interface. No downloads, logins, or clunky interfaces. Beyond customer convenience, smartbots also enable real-time behavioural insight for South African businesses. Every click, pause, or query becomes golden data that local companies can leverage to improve services, build trust, and personalise the experience. For industries like financial services and real estate, this infrastructure results in faster processes and more insightful interactions with customers. Businesses need to stop contributing to app fatigue and start earning their space in our conversations. In a world oversaturated with apps, the path forward lies in simplicity, relevance, and meaningful engagement. | Jonathan Elcock Co-founder and CEO at DAILY NEWS
eNCA
17-07-2025
- eNCA
Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church kills two
GAZA - An Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed two people on Thursday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians. Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened" by the attack, which came as Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least 20 people. "With deep sorrow the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning," it said in a statement. "We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians." Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said "two citizens from the Christian community" were killed in an Israeli strike on the church in Gaza City, with which the late Pope Francis kept regular contact through the war. AFP photographs showed the wounded being treated in a tented area at Gaza City's Al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, with parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli with a bandage around his lower leg. Some of the wounded arrived on stretchers, with one man wearing an oxygen mask. The patriarchate, which has jurisdiction for Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus, condemned the strike and said it "destroyed large parts of the complex". "Targeting a holy site currently sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, the majority of whom are children and 54 with special needs, is a flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sitses, which are supposed to provide a safe haven in times of war," it said. Israel expressed "deep sorrow" over the damage and civilian casualties, adding that the military was investigating. "Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians," the foreign ministry said on X. - 'Serious act' - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said attacks on civilians in Gaza were "unacceptable" while her Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the church attack "a serious act against a Christian place of worship". Out of the Gaza Strip's population of more than two million, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory. Since the early days of the war which erupted in October 2023, members of the Catholic community have been sheltering at the Holy Family Compound in Gaza City, where some Orthodox Christians have also found refuge. Pope Francis repeatedly called for an end to the war and in his final Easter message, a day before his death on April 21, he condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territory. - 'Totally unacceptable' - Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, the head of Catholic charity l'Oeuvre d'Orient, told AFP the raid was "totally unacceptable". AFP | Omar AL-QATTAA "It is a place of worship. It is a Catholic church known for its peaceful attitude, for being a peacemaker. These are people who are at the service of the population," he said. "There was no strategic objective, there were no jihadists in this church. There were families, there were civilians. This is totally unacceptable and we condemn in the strongest possible terms this attitude on the part of Israel." More than 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for Gaza's population, displacing most residents at least once and triggering severe shortages of food and other essentials. The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 58,573 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.
The South African
30-06-2025
- The South African
Ireland swamped by South African visa applications
Nearly a year after Ireland ended visa-free access for South Africans, the country is struggling under the weight of surging visa applications, leading to widespread delays and growing frustration among travellers. In July 2024, Ireland introduced new regulations requiring South African and Botswanan nationals to apply for visas, including transit visas, to enter or pass through the country. This marked a significant change for South Africans, who had previously enjoyed visa-free access to Ireland – one of the few European nations that allowed it. The Irish government cited multiple concerns at the time, including: A rise in forged South African passports , often used by nationals from other countries , often used by nationals from other countries An increase in international protection (asylum) claims by South Africans upon arrival by South Africans upon arrival The need to align immigration policies with the UK, which shares a common travel area with Ireland Irish Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, acknowledged the decision was 'harsh but necessary.' He pointed to a 100% increase in South African arrivals claiming asylum as a key trigger for the policy change. Despite the move, South Africa remains a key source of skilled migrants for Ireland, with deep business, trade, and educational ties. Many South African professionals, students, and entrepreneurs seek opportunities in Ireland, which is actively recruiting foreign talent to fill post-pandemic skills gaps. Since the policy took effect, Ireland has seen a massive influx of visa applications from South Africans. Although authorities committed to three-month turnaround times, many applicants report delays of 12 to 16 weeks, forcing them to cancel travel plans, including business trips and family visits. Former Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee had announced the set-up of a dedicated 'South Africa desk' at the Dublin Visa Office, supported by three local Visa Application Centres (VACs) managed by VFS Global in South Africa. However, this has proven inadequate. The Irish government has now doubled resources in a bid to clear the backlog, aiming to reduce turnaround to 4-6 weeks. 'We're seeing far more applications than expected,' Richmond said. 'We underestimated the demand, and we're now scaling operations accordingly.' Ireland has also proposed streamlining business and work permit visa processes, with a focus on faster approval timelines for skilled professionals. South African passports had faced scrutiny and misuse in Europe for several years prior. In 2022, airline Ryanair sparked controversy by administering a test in Afrikaans to validate South African passports – drawing global backlash. While the test was scrapped, questions over passport integrity remained. The visa requirement aligns Ireland with UK immigration policies, but has sparked criticism from both travellers and stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector. Despite current frustrations, Irish officials insist the visa measures are not permanent and could be re-evaluated once security risks are resolved and application volumes stabilise. In the meantime, thousands of South Africans are left navigating long waits and bureaucratic hurdles, a sharp contrast to the ease of travel they once enjoyed. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
