The Alliance of Former Muslims Ireland has hit out at the decision of the GAA to allow Muslims to take control of the Croke Park for their Eid Al Adha festivities.
On their twitter page the group posted:
“Throughout Europe, Muslims have successfully lobbied for their own schools, courts and slaughterhouses. Thus emboldened, they proceed to commandeer public spaces in the name of Islam. In Ireland, @officialgaa have just submitted to demands for Croke Park to be used as a mosque.”
Eid Al Adha or “Festival of Sacrifice” is one of the most important festivals in Islam and is celebrated at the same time as the Hajj pilgrimage to the Kaaba stone Mecca and involves the mass ritualist butchering of animals.
The festival honours the obedience of Abraham in his willingness to kill his son on God’s command.
Croke Park, however, is sacred in itself to many Irish people as it is viewed as one the symbols from which the independence movement and reassertion of Irish national identity sprang.
While the pitch of Ireland’s largest stadium will soon be saturated in the blood of terrified animals slaughtered with knives and blades without any form of sedation, just a century ago the field of Croke Park was reddened by the blood of Irish civilians gunned down by British forces during the War for Independence.
While no doubt many Irish will be shocked at such a decision to allow this to take place, the GAA President John Horan has said staging the celebration at Croke Park shows the Association’s commitment to inclusion and it’s belief that it’s “Where We All Belong”.
Fawning media outlets in Ireland have naturally been quick to applaud this decision as it represents the rapidly shifting demographics of Ireland with Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council saying it is symbolic of the Mohammedan living in Ireland having a “dual-identity” as being both Irish and Muslim.
The festival will take place either on July 31st or August 1st depending on moon sighting.
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