Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council (IMPIC)

Our Community, Our Future, Our Voice

Bridging Community, Building Peace

30th May 2015

“We are aim to provide a forum where the Irish Muslim Community can speak as one recognised voice on matters relating to their well-being in Ireland, and help promote ways of integrating effectively in the community and promote the true teachings of Islam.”

BACKGROUND:

IMPIC was established in May 2015 by influential Irish Muslim cleric, Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri. This Council represents the various Muslim groups and nationalities living in Ireland. The Council provides a coherent and inclusive voice for Muslim community in Ireland. It promotes awareness of issues relevant to Islam and Muslims of the country.

BENEFITS OF THE COUNCIL:

• Partnership promotes a stronger collective voice
• Shared information, resources and skills
• Varied and collective expertise and experience
• Promotes a shared workload
• Builds relationships with and knowledge of other organisations
• Provides a voice for small community groups
• Helps build the capacity of groups

OUR AIMS:

• To promote co-operation, consensus and unity on Muslim affairs in Ireland
• To promote Peace & Integration in Ireland and facilitate a positive integration experience for Muslims in Ireland
• To prevent extremism and isolation in the Muslim community
• To promote unity and solidarity among all communities in Ireland
• To work for a more enlightened appreciation of Islam and Muslims in wider society
• To promote inter and intra faith dialogues in the promotion of tolerance and mutual respect in a diverse society
• To liaise with Government bodies and NGO’s on matters related to the Muslim community.
• To foster better community relations and work for the benefit of the society as a who through promoting the concepts of social inclusion, active citizenship and equality
• To organize, and coordinate, humanitarian relief efforts in Ireland and abroad

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• Act as a voice for the Irish Muslims so as to enable them to highlight both to Development Boards and to other relevant agencies the issues affecting the delivery of services within the County for the Muslim community.
• Act as a support mechanism to strive to improve the conditions for the Muslim community within the country.
• To influence the policies, strategies and overall decision-making process of all relevant agencies operating in the county.
• Act as a conduit for information and feedback to and from the Network in relation to specific policies and initiatives, thereby ensuring that the concerns of Muslim community are heard at local and national level.
• Act as a lobby group for Muslims in Ireland in relation to issues that affect them.

The Strategic Plan for 2015:

GOAL 1: TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE THE COUNCIL

• Ongoing Meetings with Trustees, BOD & Advisory Board to develop constitution of the Council.
• Ensure €100.00 membership fees is received from all members of Trustees, BOD and Advisory Board.
• Website to be fully developed and running immediately where aims, objectives, vision, action plan, background of the Council and profile of all Trustees, BOD members and Advisory Board Members is uploaded.
• Organise two roll-up banners to be used in events of the Council for promoting the Council.
• The Council is to participate in events by other similar organizations by erecting stalls at events with questionnaire 6 Decide annual membership for regular members and start the membership campaign. Allocate duties to community representatives

GOAL 2– TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM BY BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND NON MUSLIMS

• Ramadan will be starting 17th or 18th of June this year. This is a great opportunity to promote awareness and understanding of Islam.
  The Council should :
  • Prepare a Resource on Ramadan for government agencies, educational institutes and companies. Resource must be sent by 5th of June 2015.
  • CEO should write an article on Ramadan for Irish Media
  • Organise community Iftaar in Dublin, Cork & Belfast Mosques. Prepare a resource for all Mosques “Community Iftar Resource Guide” so other Mosques may adopt this practise every year.
  • The Council to host a special Community Iftar Dinner for Holocaust Survivor Tomi Reichental on his 80th birthday. This will be on 26th June 2015. This Iftar dinner will be recorded by RTE TV
• Council to prepare a presentation “Introduction to Islam & Muslims in Ireland” which will be delivered in at least one educational institute every Month
• Council to prepare a “Mosque Open Day” resource and invite all Mosques to have every month one open day for non Muslim communities to enter the Mosques and inquire about Islam. This will promote appreciation and understanding of each other
• Council to deliver 3 training sessions in all Cities where IMPIC branches exist on “Our Religious, Cultural and Social Responsibilities as Muslims in Ireland”.

GOAL 3: TO ENSURE THE PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION OF MUSLIMS IN IRELAND IN POLICY AND SERVICE PLANNING AND ADVOCATE ON ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR MEMBERS

• Organise 1 training session for new members and organise one Information session to members by local bodies such as Garda, Citizens Information or other local agencies in large cities in Dublin, Cork and possibly Belfast.
• Organise 1 training session for new members and organise one information session to members where local bodies and agencies are invited to meet the community in smaller cities and town (Port Laois, Athlone)
• Expand our tentacles to other local strategic policy committees e.g. PPN (Public Participation Networks) by having Council members in local PPN. For this advisory board members which consists of community leaders will receive one training session and potential candidates shortlisted and recommended to local policing forum and others.
• Establishing homework support group for non English speaking ethnic minorities.
• Full awareness of network activities should be propagated (6) To organise two seperate training sessions on Racism & Child protection and responsibilities of Muslim parents in Ireland.

GOAL 4: TO DELIVER TRAINING TO MOSQUE MANAGEMENT AND TEACHERS OF MOSQUES TO ENSURE THEY ARE FULFILLING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS & HAVE A PRACTICAL OUTREACH PROGRAM TO NON-MUSLIM COMMUNITY:

• Train the Mosque management on imporantce of registering and having a fully transparent management system in place
• To ensure member Mosques have insurance of the place of worship
• Ensure the Mosques that are member of the Council have a Child protection policy in place
• Assist the Mosques to have an outreach program through which they reach out to the non Muslim community by organising community Iftars in Ramadan, Monthly Mosque Open Day and Cleaning the area initiatives.