Seeking to get a share in the growing Islamic finance industry, the Irish government has presented a new bill allowing Shari`ah-compliant financial transactions, reported the Irish Times on Friday, February 5. “(The measure is) one of the most significant boosts for the IFSC [International Financial Services Center] in the last decade,” said director Brendan Kelly. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan on Thursday proposed amending tax laws to allow Shari`ah-compliant transactions. The changes would help to “make Ireland the location of choice as firms rebuild in the aftermath of the global economic crisis,” Kelly said.

Read more: IslamOnline

So Muslim money is good enough for the Irish, but not our rights? What’s the incentive on our part as Muslims? You’ve done little to encourage Islam, nothing to garner trust and everything to distance, marginalize and exclude us. No, we think if Islamic companies and firms are going to invest here then they should insist that Ireland treats its Muslim minorities with some respect. Otherwise they should take their business elsewhere, across the water for instance.

Ireland shouldn’t get a sniff of the dinar and dirham until it respects Islam and Muslims and puts in place tangible measures to ensure that dignity and honour is enshrined in Irish law. As the old saying goes – You scratch our back, and we’ll scratch yours.