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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Taken up cases of violence against Indians in Ireland, says MEA
NEW DELHI: India said on Thursday it has strongly taken up several cases of violence against Indian nationals in Ireland in recent weeks and is extending all possible support to the victims. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI) External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, noted that Irish President Michael D Higgins and deputy prime minister and foreign minister Simon Harris have both 'publicly condemned these deplorable acts of violence'. Over the past few weeks, a taxi driver, a data scientist and a sous chef from India were targets of racially motivated assaults by Irish youth that left them with serious injuries. Videos have circulated on social media of another tech worker who was beaten, stabbed and partially stripped at Tallaght, while a six-year-old Irish-Indian girl was allegedly attacked while playing outside her home in County Waterford. 'There have been several cases of violence against Indian nationals in Ireland…We have strongly taken up this matter with the Irish authorities in Dublin as well as with the embassy here,' Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing. 'We note that both the president of Ireland as also the deputy prime minister and foreign minister have publicly condemned these deplorable acts of violence,' he said. 'We hope that the issues will settle.' The Indian embassy in Dublin is in touch with the victims. 'They are also in touch with our community members and extending all possible support,' Jaiswal said. Following the increase in physical attacks on Indian nationals, the Indian embassy in Dublin issued an advisory that cautioned Indian nationals to take 'reasonable precautions for their personal safety and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours'. The Garda, or Ireland's state police force, is investigating some attacks on Indians as possible hate crimes. Harris said on social media last week that Ireland will 'never ever tolerate racism' while thanking the Indian community for 'their contributions to our country in so many ways'. Earlier this week, Higgins said the attacks are in 'stark contradiction to the values that we as people hold dear'. He said such acts 'diminish all of us and obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to the life of this country'. The Ireland India Council announced on Monday that it was postponing the India Day celebration in Dublin to commemorate India's Independence Day due to safety concerns. Jaiswal responded to a separate question on an instance of the harassment of an Indian couple in Canada by saying India takes the safety and security of its nationals abroad very seriously. 'Our mission as well as our consulates are in close touch with the community members and as and when there is an issue which needs to be flagged as far as security is concerned, we take it to the local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action,' he said.
Irish Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
India day celebrations called off in Dublin after recent attacks
INDIA DAY has been postponed for the first time since its launch in 2015, amid growing concerns over a wave of racist attacks targeting the Indian community. Originally scheduled to take place this Sunday at Farmleigh House in Dublin's Phoenix Park, the event was called off by the Ireland India Council following what it described as an increasingly hostile environment, both offline and online. While organisers emphasised that there were no specific safety threats to the event itself, they cited the damaging impact of social media narratives and the broader national climate as key reasons behind the cancellation. Prashant Shukla, co-chair of the Ireland India Council, said it was a hard decision but ultimately the right one. He noted that the risk of even a single incident stemming from the negative perception online was too great, stating, 'The main purpose of India Day is friendship and the celebration of freedom, not only by the Indian community but also the Irish community.' The cancellation comes in the wake of a series of disturbing incidents that have sparked alarm within the Indian diaspora. Last month, a newly arrived Indian man was violently assaulted and stripped in Tallaght, Dublin. The attack was recorded and widely circulated on social media. In another incident, a six-year-old Irish-Indian girl was attacked and racially abused outside her home in County Waterford. These attacks are part of a broader pattern that Indian community leaders say has escalated since early 2024, following the Dublin riots the previous November. The India Day festival typically attracts thousands of attendees and hundreds of performers. Its sudden cancellation has not only disappointed participants but also highlighted the rising tension felt by many Indian residents. The Irish government has responded with a series of high-level meetings. Tánaiste Simon Harris met with representatives of the Indian community earlier this week and strongly condemned the attacks, calling them 'despicable' and 'deeply concerning.' He acknowledged the Indian community's vital role in Irish society, especially in the healthcare sector and other essential services. Harris expressed particular concern about the involvement of children and teenagers in recent attacks, calling for a review of existing laws to ensure that youth offenders face appropriate consequences. He also criticised the role of social media in amplifying hatred and misinformation, suggesting that platforms were enabling the normalisation of racist ideologies among young users. 'Social media can't be the Wild West,' he said, calling for stricter regulation and mandatory age verification. The Ireland India Council is calling for stronger legislative action, including the recognition of these assaults as hate crimes, a cross-departmental task force on youth violence and racism, enhanced policing and greater accountability for parents of underage offenders. Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin described the attacks as 'truly shocking' and called on Irish society to stand in solidarity with Indian families. He praised the Indian community's contributions to healthcare, public services, and parish life, while condemning those spreading hate through social media as 'vile' and 'blasphemous'. Archbishop Michael Jackson of the Church of Ireland also urged a coordinated, national response to the rising racism. Despite the cancellation of the main India Day event at Phoenix Park, another celebration organised by the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland is set to go ahead this Sunday in Merrion Square. The Indian Embassy in Dublin has released a public advisory urging citizens to take precautions and avoid isolated areas. A vigil also took place outside the Department of Justice last month by members of the Indian community. Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy said he expects the incoming Garda Commissioner to prioritise tackling hate crimes and called for a stronger policing response, particularly considering how some assaults have been recorded and shared online. He emphasised that both the physical attacks and their digital amplification are equally unacceptable. Shukla expressed hope that India Day can be rescheduled later this year, possibly in September or October, depending on how the situation evolves. 'We want to balance the counter-narratives,' he said, referring to the false claims circulating online about the Indian community. 'It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred.' See More: Colm Brophy, Dublin, India, Phoenix Park, Tánaiste Simon Harris
Hindustan Times
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Despicable acts of violence': Ireland's dy PM meets Indians over recent attacks
NEW DELHI: Ireland's deputy prime minister Simon Harris met members of the Indian community in Dublin on Monday to reassure them in the face of a string of attacks on Indian nationals, which he condemned as 'despicable acts of violence'. Ireland's foreign ministry said in a separate social media post that Harris 'committed to continuing to work with Minister for Migration [Colm Brophy], Gardaí and others to support Ireland's migrant communities (X/SimonHarrisTD) In the past few weeks, a taxi driver, a data scientist and a sous chef from India were the targets of racially motivated assaults by Irish youth that left them with serious injuries. Videos have circulated on social media of another tech worker who was beaten, stabbed and partially stripped at Tallaght, while a six-year-old Irish-Indian girl was allegedly attacked while playing outside her home in County Waterford. 'Today, I met representatives of Ireland's [Indian] community. I completely condemn the despicable acts of violence and racism that we have seen against some members of the [Indian] community in recent weeks,' Harris, who is also the foreign minister, said on social media after meeting representatives of the Indian community. 'I want to thank the Indian community for their very positive contribution to [Ireland],' he added. Ireland's foreign ministry said in a separate social media post that Harris 'committed to continuing to work with Minister for Migration [Colm Brophy], Gardaí and others to support Ireland's migrant communities'. The Garda or Ireland's state police force is investigating some of the attacks on Indians as possible hate crimes. Harris said on social media last week that Ireland will 'never ever tolerate racism' while thanking the Indian community for 'their contributions to our country in so many ways'. The number of Indians working in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years and official figures from the Irish government showed there were more than 78,000 Indians in the country in 2023. A total of 13,500 Indians were granted skilled employment permits by Irish authorities in 2024, accounting for a third of all permits issued. The Indian embassy in Dublin issued an advisory on August 1 that cautioned Indians to take 'reasonable precautions for their personal safety and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours' following an increase in physical attacks on Indian nationals. The Indian envoy in Dublin and the Irish ambassador to New Delhi have been coordinating to tackle the issue. Indian ambassador Akhilesh Mishra last week thanked Harris for his 'strong message of support to [the] Indian community and against racism', while Irish envoy Kevin Kelly added: 'We will not let racism win.'
