Ireland: National Stadium Hosts First Friday Prayer
This significant religious observance is observed by Muslims worldwide, providing an opportunity for community members to come together and discuss important issues.
The Irish Football Association reported that around 50 individuals from Muslim families in Belfast were invited to the stadium to participate in the prayer and also take a tour of the facility. The event was a result of ongoing efforts by the Irish FA to engage with Muslim and other faith communities.
Irish FA Community Relations Officer Andy Hardy expressed his satisfaction with the successful gathering, stating, "This is the first Jumu`ah Friday Prayer at the stadium and demonstrates our ongoing engagement with Muslim and other faith communities. The gathering took considerable planning, but its success means we have a blueprint to repeat in the future."
Members of the Muslim community in Belfast were grateful for the opportunity and saw it as a chance to foster stronger connections within the community. Abiola Sanusi, a representative from Belfast's Muslim community, emphasized the importance of building these connections, stating, "This was a special day which will live long in the memory. The Muslim community is growing in Northern Ireland. It's important we build stronger community connections. In Belfast alone, there are four to five different mosques with great community connections and a shared love of football. The event showed to some members of our community, who may have found coming to the stadium somewhat intimidating, that it is a welcoming place and that football really is for all."
According to a 2016 report by the Pew Research Centre, Ireland's Muslim population is estimated to be around 70,000.
Source: Agencies
