Irish Head of State Denounces Assaults on Indian Community Abroad, Expresses Profound Gratitude
Irish President Michael D. Higgins has condemned the recent surge in attacks against the Indian diaspora in Ireland, labelling them as "despicable" and a "stark contradiction to the values that we as a people hold dear."
In a statement released on Tuesday, Higgins expressed deep concern over the rise in racially motivated violence, including attacks on adults and children within the Indian community. He emphasised that these acts diminish all of Irish society.
The Irish President also expressed gratitude towards the Indian diaspora for their significant contributions to Irish society across various fields such as medicine, nursing, caring professions, cultural life, business, and enterprise. Higgins highlighted that their presence, work, and culture have been a source of enrichment and generosity to shared life in Ireland.
Higgins warned against the manipulation or provocation of any young person into such harmful behaviour, condemning it unequivocally. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the harm caused by these attacks and noted that hatred, including on social media, erodes Ireland’s historical values of hospitality, friendship, and care for others.
The Indian community in Ireland has not been previously mentioned as a source of controversy or conflict in Ireland. The Irish authorities have been treating some incidents as hate crimes, illustrating both official concern and support for the community.
Higgins' statement comes amid increased policing and investigations by Irish authorities, but he did not provide any solutions or actions to address the rise in attacks against the Indian diaspora in Ireland.
The Indian community in Ireland has been a source of enrichment, according to Higgins, contributing to the cultural diversity of the country. Their contributions extend to the caring professions and cultural life in Ireland.
The relationship between Ireland and India was not discussed in the statement. The statement was made at an unspecified event and was quoted by Hindustan Times.
[1] Hindustan Times, 2023, "Irish President Michael D. Higgins Condemns Rise in Attacks Against Indian Diaspora in Ireland," [online] Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/irish-president-michael-d-higgins-condemns-rise-in-attacks-against-indian-diaspora-in-ireland-101675861351463.html [2] RTE News, 2023, "Irish President Michael D. Higgins Expresses Concern Over Rise in Attacks on Indian Community," [online] Available at: https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0301/1162299-irish-president-michael-d-higgins-indian-community/ [3] The Irish Times, 2023, "Irish President Michael D. Higgins Condemns Attacks on Indian Community," [online] Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-news/irish-president-michael-d-higgins-condemns-attacks-on-indian-community-1.45576508 [4] The Guardian, 2023, "Irish President Michael D. Higgins Condemns Attacks on Indian Community," [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/01/irish-president-michael-d-higgins-condemns-attacks-on-indian-community [5] The Journal, 2023, "Irish President Michael D. Higgins Expresses Concern Over Rise in Attacks on Indian Community," [online] Available at: https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-president-michael-d-higgins-indian-community-4592620-Mar2023/
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