The Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh in Dublin has been closed to the public after an incident at the weekend.
In a message yesterday to the Muslim community in Ireland, Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Hussein Halawa, described news of the closure of the centre as “distressing”.
He described the centre as “a symbol of unity” and urged people to “verify the accuracy of any news you hear and not to be swept away by rumours.”
In a statement this morning, the centre said the mosque had been temporarily closed by decision of the newly appointed Board of Directors.
It said this was “a preventive measure to ensure the safety and security of the property, staff, children and members of the public.”
The statement said that on Saturday, 19 April, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) board had scheduled a closed-door meeting “specifically for the parents of children enrolled at the Quranic School to discuss school-related matters” but it said “attempts were made to disrupt the meeting and transform it into an open community gathering at an incorrect venue.”
It said that following an 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 statement continues: “The Centre remains concerned about ongoing safety risks, particularly given reports that further protests may be organised 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 statement added: “The Centre reiterates that rumours of pressure from abroad or any external actors/parties are false and without foundation.”
It said 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.”
The Nurul Huda Quranic School, which operated in the centre, has been closed since mid-April, following a dispute between the board and staff at the school.
Staff, including the school’s principal and deputy principal, resigned on 9 April.
The school, which was established in 2000 and has over 1,000 students, teaches Quranic studies and Arabic and operates on Saturdays and Sundays and on some weekday evenings.
It is understood that the school has been re-registered and operates independently of the ICCI, offering classes to students via Zoom.
