This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27620406
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Peter Robinson 'did not mean to insult Muslim community' | Peter Robinson 'did not mean to insult Muslim community' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| First Minister Peter Robinson has said he would never "want to insult or cause distress" to Muslims in Northern Ireland. | First Minister Peter Robinson has said he would never "want to insult or cause distress" to Muslims in Northern Ireland. |
| The DUP leader said comments he made in support of remarks by a pastor about Muslims were "misinterpreted". | The DUP leader said comments he made in support of remarks by a pastor about Muslims were "misinterpreted". |
| Mr Robinson had told the Irish News on Wednesday he would not trust Muslims involved in violence or devotees of Sharia law. | Mr Robinson had told the Irish News on Wednesday he would not trust Muslims involved in violence or devotees of Sharia law. |
| But he said he would "trust them to go to the shops" for him. | But he said he would "trust them to go to the shops" for him. |
| 'Ongoing support' | 'Ongoing support' |
| However, on Thursday he said his remarks had been "given a meaning that was never intended". | However, on Thursday he said his remarks had been "given a meaning that was never intended". |
| "For the avoidance of any doubt, I make it clear that I welcome the contribution made by all communities in Northern Ireland, and in the particular circumstances, the Muslim community," he said. | "For the avoidance of any doubt, I make it clear that I welcome the contribution made by all communities in Northern Ireland, and in the particular circumstances, the Muslim community," he said. |
| "I very much value their contribution at every level to our society and I will take the opportunity to meet with local Muslim leaders to demonstrate my ongoing support for them as integral law abiding citizens in Northern Ireland." | "I very much value their contribution at every level to our society and I will take the opportunity to meet with local Muslim leaders to demonstrate my ongoing support for them as integral law abiding citizens in Northern Ireland." |
| When asked if he owed the Muslim community in Northern Ireland an apology, Mr Robinson said: "If I said anything that was derogatory, of course I would apologise. | When asked if he owed the Muslim community in Northern Ireland an apology, Mr Robinson said: "If I said anything that was derogatory, of course I would apologise. |
| "I've indicated very clearly that I would be hurt if any of them felt that I was showing any disrespect for them or was not supportive of them. | "I've indicated very clearly that I would be hurt if any of them felt that I was showing any disrespect for them or was not supportive of them. |
| "That's why I want to meet Muslim leaders and assure them that they have my ongoing support." | "That's why I want to meet Muslim leaders and assure them that they have my ongoing support." |
| Mr Robinson's remarks to the Irish News have been widely condemned by the Muslim community across the UK and by many Northern Ireland politicians. | Mr Robinson's remarks to the Irish News have been widely condemned by the Muslim community across the UK and by many Northern Ireland politicians. |
| The first minister had told the paper it was a duty of any preacher to denounce what he described as "false prophesy". | The first minister had told the paper it was a duty of any preacher to denounce what he described as "false prophesy". |
| He went on to say that he would not trust Muslims either, particularly with regard to those who had been involved in violence, or those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law, I wouldn't trust them for spiritual guidance". | He went on to say that he would not trust Muslims either, particularly with regard to those who had been involved in violence, or those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law, I wouldn't trust them for spiritual guidance". |
| However, Mr Robinson said he would trust Muslims to "go down to the shops" for him or to deal with a number of other "day to day issues". | However, Mr Robinson said he would trust Muslims to "go down to the shops" for him or to deal with a number of other "day to day issues". |
| Alliance Party assembly member Anna Lo, who was born in China but has lived in Northern Ireland for 40 years, told the Guardian newspaper that she will not seek re-election to the Northern Ireland Assembly due to continual racist abuse. | |
| The news came after she told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show she was considering leaving the country after what Mr Robinson had said, as the comments could "escalate even more of the racist tension". | |
| She later said: "I'm very angry about this. In the last few months I have seen such a dramatic increase in racist attacks, two or three a day. | |
| "Then a pastor makes these comments. We have politician after politician defending him and the first minister of this country. | |
| "What sort of place do we now live in? I do feel vulnerable. I know ethnic minorities have been attacked and I feel vulnerable when I walk in the street that I will be attacked." | |
| Raied Al-Wazzan, of the Belfast Islamic Centre, said he would accept Mr Robinson's invitation to meet the local Muslim community. | Raied Al-Wazzan, of the Belfast Islamic Centre, said he would accept Mr Robinson's invitation to meet the local Muslim community. |
| "We welcome his support for the Muslim community, and his statement is a little bit more clear than the last one," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback. | "We welcome his support for the Muslim community, and his statement is a little bit more clear than the last one," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback. |
| "We also support freedom of speech - everybody has the right to criticise Islam - but we can debate any issue. The point we stand for is that you cannot label all Muslims as untrustworthy, and I hope he can explain that in a better way." | "We also support freedom of speech - everybody has the right to criticise Islam - but we can debate any issue. The point we stand for is that you cannot label all Muslims as untrustworthy, and I hope he can explain that in a better way." |
| He added: "People are afraid of what's happening here and we need to calm things down." | He added: "People are afraid of what's happening here and we need to calm things down." |
| The initial controversy came about when Pastor James McConnell of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast, described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic", and said he did not trust Muslims. | The initial controversy came about when Pastor James McConnell of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in north Belfast, described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic", and said he did not trust Muslims. |
| Police said they were investigating "a hate crime motive" after complaints about Mr McConnell's remarks. | Police said they were investigating "a hate crime motive" after complaints about Mr McConnell's remarks. |
| In his statement on Thursday Mr Robinson said: "I strongly believe that Pastor James McConnell has the right to freedom of speech. | In his statement on Thursday Mr Robinson said: "I strongly believe that Pastor James McConnell has the right to freedom of speech. |
| "I will defend his right just as I defend the right of others to express views with which I disagree. | "I will defend his right just as I defend the right of others to express views with which I disagree. |
| "People have the right to express their differing views and indeed the essence of democracy is the ability to do so in a way that is free from fear and intimidation." | "People have the right to express their differing views and indeed the essence of democracy is the ability to do so in a way that is free from fear and intimidation." |
| Mr Robinson added: "No part of me would want to insult or cause distress to local Muslims. | Mr Robinson added: "No part of me would want to insult or cause distress to local Muslims. |
| "I can assure members of the Islamic community I respect their contribution to our society. | "I can assure members of the Islamic community I respect their contribution to our society. |
| "I believe in building a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland and have always endeavoured to work for the betterment of all the people of Northern Ireland. | "I believe in building a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland and have always endeavoured to work for the betterment of all the people of Northern Ireland. |
| "I look forward to meeting with representatives of the Muslim community as soon as it can be arranged." | "I look forward to meeting with representatives of the Muslim community as soon as it can be arranged." |