Friday, December 29, 2006 at 2:02am
Irish Muslim to sit on anti-hate body
Ireland said Thursday it had appointed a member of the country's small but growing Muslim community to be its representative on the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.
Pakistan-born Mazhar Ali Bari replaces former government minister Chris Flood on the ECRI, a body of the Council of Europe. Justice Minister Michael McDowell said in a statement, "I am delighted that Dr. Bari has accepted this role," KeralaNext.com reported Friday.
"He comes to ECRI with a wealth of experience and ideas and I am confident that he will perform his role with the same dedication and energy that he has shown in his contribution to the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism."
ECRI aims to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance across Europe, from the angle of protecting human rights.
Bari is a member of the boards of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism and of the Muslim National School in Dublin. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Association of Pakistanis in Ireland and a member of the Ireland Pakistan Business Council. A physicist, he has recently established a technology company.
Ireland's Muslims are one of its fastest-growing religious groups as a result of immigrants attracted by job opportunities in the so-called "Celtic Tiger" economy.
Ireland pledged a special $1.3 million donation Thursday to keep open a feeding program for orphans in Namibia that was near collapse due to lack of funds. "It is critical to keep this vital pipeline of food aid operating and ensure that food continues to reach these most vulnerable children," Ireland's Minister for Food Brendan Smith said.
Pakistan-born Mazhar Ali Bari replaces former government minister Chris Flood on the ECRI, a body of the Council of Europe. Justice Minister Michael McDowell said in a statement, "I am delighted that Dr. Bari has accepted this role," KeralaNext.com reported Friday.
"He comes to ECRI with a wealth of experience and ideas and I am confident that he will perform his role with the same dedication and energy that he has shown in his contribution to the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism."
ECRI aims to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance across Europe, from the angle of protecting human rights.
Bari is a member of the boards of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism and of the Muslim National School in Dublin. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Association of Pakistanis in Ireland and a member of the Ireland Pakistan Business Council. A physicist, he has recently established a technology company.
Ireland's Muslims are one of its fastest-growing religious groups as a result of immigrants attracted by job opportunities in the so-called "Celtic Tiger" economy.
Ireland pledged a special $1.3 million donation Thursday to keep open a feeding program for orphans in Namibia that was near collapse due to lack of funds. "It is critical to keep this vital pipeline of food aid operating and ensure that food continues to reach these most vulnerable children," Ireland's Minister for Food Brendan Smith said.