Mosques funded from abroad ‘a risk’

“It is a fact that mosques funded from abroad can be influenced by foreign ideologies, which may be incompatible with western values, but I do not think that it is currently a concern for Cork,” said Sheikh Ihab Ahmed.

Sheikh Ihab Ahmed.

He said that his own mosque, the Muslim Foundation of Cork, is entirely funded locally, and it has 300 active members.

“It is a pure Irish mosque,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Sheikh Ahmed has recovered well since he was attacked on Blarney Street earlier this month. He was knocked to the ground, his arm was injured and his hat was stolen.

He said that although he believes the attack was racially motivated, he does not believe that it is indicative of any organised groundswell of racist sentiment in Cork.

Sheikh Ahmed hopes that the perpetrator will be caught to prevent him from reoffending.

Sheikh Ahmed yesterday attended the opening of the new Cork Prison. He was with Moalim Ahmed and Olatungi Amin, friends from Cork’s Muslim community.

They all commented on the high standards of the new Cork Prison.