McGuinness Visits Islamic Centre

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has visited the Islamic Centre in Belfast with Sinn Féin party colleagues Carál Ní Chuilín and Alex Maskey, following a recent storm over comments made by First Minister Peter Robinson and local Pastor Jame McConnell last week.

Mr Robinson had defended comments made by the Pastor, who claimed Islam was "satanic", "heathen" and "spawned in hell". The First Minister said he would trust Muslims to "go to the shops" for him, but would not trust Muslims engaged in "Sharia Law".

Following both political and public backlash, Mr Robinson met with Muslim leaders from across Ireland this week, to offer a public apology to any members of the community who were offended by the comments.

Following last night's meeting, Martin McGuinness said: I felt very honoured to be with our Muslim brothers and sisters tonight. They make an incredible contribution to the lives of the people of this city and are trusted and valued members of our society. As a political leader I was dismayed to see them treated in the way they have been over the course of the last fortnight.

"I heard stories tonight of the fear felt by members of the community in the wake of the comments by Pastor James McConnell and the attack in north Belfast which left two people badly injured. Some people told me they had been afraid to go to work.

"I wanted to make it clear my abhorrence of the way they had been treated. There is a huge responsibility on us as political leaders to stand by them. I believe in the right to free speech but people, including church ministers, do not have the right to engage in hate-filled speech."

He continued: "I was told tonight that a large number of people from both the Protestant and Catholic faiths have approached members of the Muslim community to offer their solidarity. I think this is testament to the wish of the overwhelming majority of people to ensure that diversity is not just protected but cherished."

(IT/MH)