On Saturday 19th January the Irish Anti War Movement supported an international mobilisation against the banning of the Hijab in French Schools by taking part in a protest at the French Embassy in Dublin. This has lead to a heated debate on Indymedia Ireland which reflects the complexity of the issue. Below is one contribution to the debate: A defense of the stance of the IAWM contributed by Aoife Ní Fhearghail of the IAWM and SWP:

"When the Irish Anti-War Movement was set up - as well as opposing the looming war on Afghanistan, the use of Shannon Airport by belligerent powers and the on-going occupation of Palestine - two of our defining principles were opposition to the racism (or more particularly Islamophobia) which is inherent in Bush's 'War on Terror' and opposition to attacks on civil liberties.

Bush's 'War on Terror' has been a useful tool to governments the world over which want to enact racist, anti-immigrant legislation and crack down heavily on civil liberties.

Clearly, the decision by the french government to ban a woman's right to choose to wear the Hijab in school is not just an infringement on her civil rights, but a continuation of France's generations-long attacks on members of the Islamic community. This latest decision is not designed to further the cause of women's liberation, but to demonise young French Muslim women. If you cannot understand this then you are either guilty of the most infantile ultraleftism or you possibly subscribe yourself to the Robert Kilroy-Silk school of thought.

The SWP as a socialist organisation is opposed to women's oppression and women being forced to dress/behave in a way they do not choose. However unlike other 'socialist' groups and individuals notably absent from Saturday's demonstration the SWP supports an individuals' right to practice their religion.

Young Muslim women living in Ireland have been at the forefront of all the anti-war demonstrations. Many organised walk-outs of their schools on March 20 last year when the invasion of Iraq began. Along with members of Catholic, Quaker, Jewish, Church of Ireland and Gandhian-individualistic brands of religion, they have played just as significant a role in the anti-war movement as those of us who are atheists, and just as they march in defence of freedom in Iraq, so we in Ireland must defend their civil rights in France."

Debate Ongoing Here
Debate Began Here
Arguments For and Against from 'About Islam'
Opinion Piece on Ban from UK SWP
Muslim Women Debate Feminism and Fundamentalism at time of Afghan War: Audio from Democracy Now

The first major protests of Ireland's EU presidency took place this weekend in Galway, with a number of groups speaking out on issues ranging from racism to fishing in Connemara. They coincided with a meeting of employment/social affairs ministers in a city-centre hotel. The largest demonstration took place under the banner "Another Europe Is Possible", in Eyre Square, close to the venue, and was attended by around 500 people.

Gardai were present in large numbers, and a helicopter hovered overhead. Two people were arrested in a car-park for "obstructing traffic" late on Friday evening. Eoin Rice, a well-known activist, was arrested on Saturday morning, and was allegedly beaten while in Garda custody. In a statement made later that day, he detailed the alleged assaults. "One man stood on my neck as I lay on the ground while several others kicked at me and one man struck me acrossthe legs repeatedly with a telescopic baton which had a large ballbearing on the end. At least a dozen uniformed Gardai stood by watching this scene".

Fintan Lane, PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement, "unreservedly condemn(ed) the heavy handed approach taken by Gardai in Galway". Edward Horgan of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance called for an "urgent independent investigation of these complaints against the Gardai". The Garda press office confirmed that Eoin Rice had been arrested and is due in court in February. They declined to comment on the allegations of a beating in custody but said that there are "several channels open to him if he wishes to make a complaint". Eoin was examined by a doctor at the Garda station and, on his instigation, was taken directly to Galway Hospital where a wound to his head was stitched, his arm was x-rayed and bandaged and anti-inflammatories and painkillers were administered.

According to Conor Cregan, an anti-war activist who was present at the arrest, all of these injuries were caused after Eoin had been taken away by Gardai. Eoin Rice, Conor Cregan and a third activist (from Spain) confirmed to an Indymedia Editor that they have already lodged complaints about the incident with the Garda Complaints Board.

This serious allegation comes at a time when questions about the accountability of the Gardai and allegations that they are 'out of control' have been recieving enormous public attention as a result of a recent Primetime Programme. The programme in question made extensive use of Indymedia Ireland footage of the Mayday RTS debacle. It is grimly ironic that that the broadcasting by Primetime of the very evidence that made allegations against Gardai in relation to the Mayday RTS impossible to ignore or deny outright is now being used by Lawyers for a number of Gardai as a potential way to have their trials delayed or called off.

IMC IRL Interview with Eoin Rice
Statement issued by Eoin Rice
Conor Cregan's Witness Statement
Videos of the protests and Eoin Rice's video statement
Photos of the demonstrations
Critical Account of the demonstrations
Photos of Gardai Special Branch Video surveillance

.

The latest twist in the chindropping saga for mouthwatering power sees Cu Cullen teaming up with Invader Ireland. By eminent command of the almighty An Bored Pleanala, council of elders, it has been decreed that a line of massive incinerations, sending a deluge of luminous clouds of mysterious pharmochemical toxins into the air, will light Cu Cullen’s long march to the The Hill of Tara.

And while these fires may well burn “forever” it will be The Cu himself who will light The Eternal Flame of Destiny, when he retrieves the Ark of the Covenant from Tara, which has been lying in wait for his arrival since some illegal immigrants buried it there two thousand years ago. Cu Cullen is said to be “in a state of rhapsody”, according to sources deep within the recesses of his troll-road building army, camped just outside Waterford. “It will be better than Lord of the Rings any day, and tourism will get a real boost” said the human-like spokesperson.

Related Stories and Links
Carrickmines Castle update + Media Analysis
Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment
Save Tara-Skryne Valley Campaign Website

FROM THE NEWSWIRE: 'Five massively overcrowded tin sheds held thousands of grossly overfed chickens, nearing their slaughter age of 42 days. Struggling birds were crammed together lying in their own excrement on the ground. Many could not stand . Their legs which do not keep pace with their rapidly growing body weight often buckle and snap under the strain of supporting it. There are 68 million broiler birds reared here annually, millions suffer painfull leg disorders. In contrast the 'breeding flock' are fed tiny rations to slow growth rate, these in contrast suffer chronic hunger.

These 'broiler birds' are fed drugs to grow more quickly and increase weight and overfed to increase breeders profits, no concern is given to the suffering inflicted on them. The flightless birds live their short lives without ever seeing daylight or feeling grass beneath their feet. The sight on opening the shed doors was one of gross cruelty and neglect.Farm staff only enter the sheds to remove the dead birds, feeding is automated.

'Two sad companions lay huddled in the corner. We thought they were dead as they did not move when we touched them.They seemed oblivious to us and propped each others heavy bodies up. We lifted the heavy warm bodies and gently carried them away to freedom, merely as a token of the thousands of others we were unable to save.'

From the Newswire: The self-described ‘Soldier of Destiny’, Waterford property developer Martin Cu Cullen (aka ‘Cu Cullen’) has big plans for himself and the Hill of Tara, which lies disgracefully underdeveloped in County Meath. Soon he will build a 680 million euro motorway, and then they will come. They will know. “Toilets, for boys and girls, videos, sweeties, parking lot attendants, contracts, sub-contracts, burgers, hotels…you name it, we got it!” howls Cu Cullen gleefully.

Is this guy for real? Oh yes. This is no accident of fate, but the culmination of a life-long campaign, hatched by Cu Cullen when a youth, after he ate some old tuna fish and learned that the Ark of the Covenant was buried at Tara. He headed straight for politics as a means of using OPPM (other peoples public money) to achieve his divinely appointed destiny. And now he has mighty powers. Planning appeals are made to disappear, into thin air. New ones appear, just as magically and ‘Hypresto!’ they are passed. Money seems to flow in from bottomless wells in all directions for The Party. And everybody wants to take his picture!

Cleverly disguised as the Minister for the Environment and Heritage he has assembled a boatload of spanking new road building machinery, which is now being tested out on his other pet road 31 million project in Waterford. “The town has never been the same since Henry II took off with Strongbow, never to return. We are thinking of naming the motorway after him. He would be so proud of us.” Gone are the days of hitching a lift up the dark old Dublin road. “Welcome to Cullen Country!” Soon greater things will come, given the right campaign fund for his own coven of druid spin-doctors, tarot readers, bible-translators as well as experts in construction Yiddish, Hebrew and Old-Irish.

Key to the crafty scheme is his decision to hand over motorway lordship to his arch-allies, Irish Trolls, who will make hundreds of millions in profits. Dozens of troll booths are being erected in the middle of all traffic black spots, with armies of cars and lorries lining up to pay, and pay and pay, OR ELSE! Small teams of strike-force laser drones will harry motorists as they reach third gear, and bilk millions more. Even the clampers will be out in force. Genius.