ON picking up the Sunday Tribune last week, I just had to sit down and have what one can only describe as a really good giggle at the article headed 'Fascist fundamentalism is rife among young Irish Muslims'.

It is a pity that the source of your so-called information is quite farcical. The Supreme Muslim Council (what the heck is that? ), never heard of them, and who exactly is Shaheed Satardien? Never heard of him. One of the leading Islamic clerics in Ireland, I don't think so.

Well, let me say that as an Irish Muslim woman who reverted to Islam some 28 years ago, someone who has worked closely with the community for some years, that this man is hardly known to the Muslim community in general. This is the man that you claim is a highly regarded top Islamic cleric. Let's just say that until this article was published, very few people even heard of Shaheed Satardien, and I'm sure that all of them wished that they never had to hear of him.

What a load of garbage, Muslim youth of Ireland being radicalised and turned into terrorists. Where the hell does he get that notion from? I, along with several Irish Muslim women, have been involved with the youth in our community since they were babies; we are the mothers of these children and youth.

We, just like all other parents in Ireland, are busy trying to keep our youth on the straight and narrow, trying to get our kids to follow even the basic Islamic teachings, and God knows that takes up all of our time and energy. Islamic fundamentalism in our youth?

What a load of hogwash!

You have fallen for the ageold trap of a story maker such as your friend Shaheed Satardien. No wonder the Taoiseach's office never replied to him; they obviously know exactly who he is, even if you guys don't.

Rabia Najjair, Women's Co-ordinator, Islamic Foundation of Ireland.

ifi@indigo. ie

Muslim extremism must be countered From Philip Wart The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) has found no evidence in its work over nine years to support the claims by Sheikh Dr Saheed Satardien reported in last week's Sunday Tribune linking Muslim youths with extremism and terrorism in Ireland or that Ireland is now a 'haven for fundamentalism'.

NCCRI liases and works closely with the Muslim community and the gardai in Ireland. In addition to this lack of evidence, the NCCRI has never come across the 'Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland' that he contends to represent.

We have been in contact with a number of key Muslim and other representative organisations in Ireland who are angry about the views of Dr Satardien as being misleading and which have the potential to stir up prejudice against the Muslim community in Ireland at a sensitive time.

We have been reliably informed that Dr Satardien views do not represent the views of the vast majority of Muslims living in Ireland. The Gardai have consistently rejected the view that extremism is widespread in the Muslim community in Ireland.

Philip Watt, Director, The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism Muslim extremism must be countered From Paddy Monaghan I WOULD like to congratulate Sheikh Dr Shaheed Satardien for courageously highlighting that there was "an ocean of extremism" spreading among Muslims throughout Ireland and that Irish Muslim leaders are failing their young people who are embracing fundamentalism.

Dr Satardien told the Sunday Tribune that young Muslims were being torn between two cultures, drawing them into support for terrorism, anti-Semitism and a hatred of western democracy. In his opinion, young Islamic men were spending long periods in locations such as Pakistan, where they were taking part in al-Qaeda terrorist training madrassas and being brainwashed to reject moderate Islam. Satardien urged the Irish authorities to monitor the activities of foreign national Muslim leaders who, he said, were entering the country to promote radical fundamentalism.

Surely it is time for our government leaders and the Irish Muslim community to address the following:

1) In Islamic literature, the world is divided into two spheres, Dar al-Islam, used to describe land presently ruled by Islam, and Dar al-Harb, meaning territory currently under the rule of infidels which has not yet been subdued by Islam. Can Sheikh Halawa, president of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland and Imam of the South Circular Road mosque in Dublin, give reassurance that they don't regard Ireland as being part of Dar alHarb?

2) The Koran itself seems to justify the killing of infidels (Jews and Christians) in a number of places, and one such example is to be found in Sura 47.4: "When you meet the unbelievers in jihad, chop off their heads." Can Sheikh Halawa give reassurance that passages such as these from the Koran are not seen by young radicalised Muslims as a call to general jihad?

3)The garda's Middle Eastern desk acknowledged some time ago that they are hamstrung in their efforts to deal with the militants by current laws. Sheik al-Qaradawi, a radical fundamentalist preacher, who regularly preaches support for suicide bombing, murder of homosexuals and the elimination of the state of Israel, recently visited Dublin to chair the 14th Session of the European Council for Fatwa.

Should such militants be banned from entering Ireland?

4)Halawa is also secretary of this European Council for Fatwa, which is headquartered in the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin. Would Halawa give reassurance that he does not support suicide bombings, etc?

5)If the Islamic Cultural Centre constructs Ireland's first Islamic secondary school, what measures will the Department of Education take to ensure that no incitement to hatred forms any part of the curriculum?

6)Should Muslims, who believe that jihad against nonMuslims is their right and duty, be denied from obtaining citizenship in Ireland? Should the promotion of Sharia law in Ireland also disqualify Muslims from obtaining citizenship?

It is my hope that ministers McDowell, O'Dea and Hanafin, and the Muslim community, will come up with answers which will help safeguard this country from any fundamentalist Muslim threat and encourage moderate Muslims like Satardien.

Paddy Monaghan, Catholic Lay Missionary, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Casement Park is for sport, not politics From Brian Rooney THE GAA's Casement Park in Belfast should be reserved for sport alone, not Ourselves Alone.

Brian Rooney, 14 The Heights, Downpatrick, BT30 8PU.

Assistance needed on hobblers research From Noel Murphy I AM compiling information in order to write an article concerning the hobblers of Ringsend and Dun Laoghaire from the 18th to the 20th century, many of whom lost their lives pursuing this dangerous seafaring occupation in Dublin Bay.

I would be grateful for any information readers may have to offer me in my research.

Noel Murphy, 22 Kerlogue Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4 'Intelligence' and the loss of freedom From Brendan Butler DIARMUID Doyle is correct to have a healthy cynicism about the terrorist threat (Comment, 13 August).

We are now under the tyranny of an everincreasing powerful body in our local and global society . . . intelligence services. When they declare a terrorist threat, the rest of society is caught on the horns of a dilemma . . . whether to believe them or not. The intelligence services are the new gods in our societies and they require utter and unconditional belief in their omniscience. There are no visible proofs given to back up their assertions and so, in fear and trepidation, the population is cowed and forced to behave as they order. Everything must remain a secret and a mystery in the hands of these new high priests against the powers of evil. They claim infallibility and thus are incapable of making mistakes. The 'war against terror and evil' demands no deviation or dissent from these know-alls.

Where is our freedom gone?

Brendan Butler, The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin