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Irish Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
School at Dublin Islamic Centre to reopen with heavy security on Monday
The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in South Dublin , which was closed last week as part of a bitter internal dispute, is to reopen its national school and creche on Monday with heavy security. However, the rest of the campus, including the mosque which is the largest in Ireland, will remain closed. The centre's management has said it will remain closed until a full security review takes place. It has stated it fears there may be an attempt to forcibly take over the property. The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI), in Clonskeagh, South Dublin, closed its doors last week following a physical confrontation at a meeting which had to be broke up by gardaí. READ MORE Gardaí maintained a presence outside the centre over the weekend while several dozen private security guards patrolled the interior. [ Concerns raised over alleged financial irregularities and links with extremist ideology at Dublin mosque Opens in new window ] The decision to close the centre was taken by the Al Maktoum Foundation, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) charity which owns the centre and provides about €2.5 million a year in funding. It has raised concerns about alleged financial irregularities at the centre as well as alleged links between some members and extremist ideologies. Zahid Jamil, a Dubai-based lawyer and a member of the foundation's board, said on Sunday the national school and creche will reopen on Monday morning. It is understood there will be a significant security presence at the gates and that only children and staff will be permitted to enter. Mr Jamil said the foundation's board has been working with the management of the school to ensure it can reopen. He said it has worked out arrangements for security and protection and that it is grateful to the Irish authorities for their assistance. 'The Muslim National School is exactly the kind of organisation that fosters integration and works against extremism,' he said. The Al Maktoum Foundation has sent Mr Jamil and an auditor to Ireland to examine the finances of the centre. Concerns have been raised about the management of charitable donations, including funds raised for Gaza and the use of cash payments. The foundation has also raised concerns about alleged links between officials and the Muslim Brotherhood, an international Islamist organisation which the UAE claims is a terrorist organisation. To date, no official complaint has been made to gardaí about these matters. Garda sources said its only involvement with the centre has been to ensure the safety of attendees and to prevent any public order breaches. It has also received information relating to a petrol canister found on the grounds of the centre. In a statement last week, the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council backed the board's moves and said that for 'too long' the mosque has been controlled by people 'who fail to represent the diversity of Irish Muslims'. It criticised individuals 'who prioritised power over service, division over unity, and stagnation over progress, including elements with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood'.
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin was shut over fears of ‘forced takeover'
The Islamic Centre is currently at the centre of a bitter dispute between the board of the Al Maktoum Foundation and a group of prominent officials in the centre and their supporters Footage of the incident at the Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland (ICCI) last Saturday The Islamic Centre in Clonskeagh was closed amid fears of 'potential attempts to breach the Centre's gates and forcibly take control of the premises,' it has been stated. In a statement issued on the Centre's website, its newly appointed Board of Directors described the closure as 'a preventive measure to ensure the safety and security of the property, staff, children and members of the public.' The Centre remained closed on Saturday. Locals say there has been an increased garda and security presence visible there in the past number of days. The Islamic Centre is currently at the centre of a bitter dispute between the board of the Al Maktoum Foundation and a group of prominent officials in the centre and their supporters. The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin The Al Maktoum Foundation provides about €2.5 million a year for the running of the Centre. It recently queried a number of matters relating to the financial running of the centre. Zahid Jamil, a Dubai-based lawyer and a member of the foundation's board, was sent to Ireland this week to examine the finances, along with an auditor. 'The board is concerned about the financial situation and, as a result, an auditor has been officially appointed,' Mr Jamil was quoted as telling The Irish Times. Some of the allegations relate to the administration of a Quranic school on the grounds of the centre. In the statement issued on the ICCI's website, the board said: 'On Saturday, 19 April, the ICCI Board had scheduled a closed-door meeting specifically for the parents of children enrolled at the Quranic School to discuss school-related matters. Footage of the incident last Saturday 'However, attempts were made to disrupt the meeting and transform it into an open community gathering at an incorrect venue. 'A formal clarification had also been issued on the morning of Saturday, 19 April, confirming that the meeting was with the parents of students enrolled at the Quranic School. 'Despite this, there was a coordinated effort to instigate chaos, intimidate and harass parents, and obstruct their entry to the scheduled meeting, which also led to physical assault on a staff and the Board. 'This resulted in a heightened security situation, creating an unsafe environment for our Board Member, staff, parents, the general public, and young people in attendance. 'Following this incident—and in light of credible information received by the Board regarding planned protests, including potential attempts to breach the Centre's gates and forcibly take control of the premises—the Board determined that maintaining security would be impossible if the Centre remained open. 'The Centre remains concerned about ongoing safety risks, particularly given reports that further protests may be organized with the intent to incite individuals to breach the gates and forcibly occupy ICCI premises. 'We trust the Gardaí will continue to ensure the protection of the Centre during this time. 'The newly appointed Board, having recently taken charge, has also raised serious concerns regarding financial irregularities and governance failures at the ICCI. 'An internal review was underway, and an internal auditor had been appointed to assist with this process. 'As part of this effort, the management requested financial records and other relevant documents from the Principal and Deputy Principal of the Quranic School. 'However, they refused to comply, unlawfully withheld ICCI property, and removed sensitive records without authorization.' In the wake of the centre, a complaint has been made to the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) alleging that the foundation's board was accessing details of members of the centre and sending them to the United Arab Emirates. The new board of the ICCI has however denied this allegation. 'Assertions circulating that any foreign party has made a request for any data are completely false and are categorically denied,' the statement said. 'No such request has been received, nor has any action been taken in this regard. 'These statements are defamatory and baseless. The Centre reiterates that rumours of pressure from abroad or any external actors/parties are false and without foundation. 'The ICCI will remain closed as it undertakes a full review of its security posture. 'In the meantime, the Board is also conducting a comprehensive audit to address and remedy the legal, financial, and governance issues it has inherited. 'These reforms will ultimately enhance the Centre's ability to fulfil its mission. 'Looking ahead, the ICCI intends to welcome a wide range of new proposals and initiatives that support deeper integration into Irish society and foster stronger collaboration with the institutions and diverse communities of the Irish state.'
