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Belfast preacher who denounced Islam as evil issues apology Belfast preacher who denounced Islam as evil issues apology
(about 1 hour later)
A Belfast born-again Christian preacher who denounced Islam as "satanic" and the "spawn of the devil" has issued a public apology over remarks that ended up de-stabilising Northern Ireland's power-sharing government. A born-again Christian preacher from Belfast who denounced Islam as "satanic" and the "spawn of the devil" has issued a public apology over remarks that ended up de-stabilising Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.
Pastor James McConnell said he never had any intention to "arouse fear or stir up or incite hatred" towards any Muslim in the region.Pastor James McConnell said he never had any intention to "arouse fear or stir up or incite hatred" towards any Muslim in the region.
The preacher's statement was issued just hours before the Police Service of Northern Ireland questioned him about his comments and allegations he had been inciting hatred. The preacher's statement was issued just hours before the Police Service of Northern Ireland questioned him about his comments and allegations that he had been inciting hatred.
Northern Ireland's first minister, Peter Robinson, came under fire for initially defending Pastor McConnell. Earlier this week Robinson also publicly apologised for comments he made in a Belfast newspaper stating that he would not trust Muslims who adhered to Sharia law. He delivered his apology on the steps of Belfast's Islamic Centre. Northern Ireland's first minister, Peter Robinson, came under fire for initially defending Pastor McConnell. Earlier this week, Robinson publicly apologised for comments he made in a Belfast newspaper stating that he would not trust Muslims who adhered to Sharia law. He delivered his apology on the steps of Belfast's Islamic centre.
In a statement released on his Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Church website, Pastor McConnell said: "My sermon was drawing attention to how many followers of Islam have, regrettably, interpreted the doctrine of Islam as justification for violence. In a statement released on his Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle church website, Pastor McConnell said: "My sermon was drawing attention to how many followers of Islam have, regrettably, interpreted the doctrine of Islam as justification for violence.
"I have qualified my comments by reference to those who use their religion as justification for violence. As a preacher of the word of God, it is this interpretation of the doctrine of Islam which I am condemning. "I have qualified my comments by reference to those who use their religion as justification for violence. As a preacher of the word of God, it is this interpretation of the doctrine of Islam which I am condemning. I abhor violence and condemn anyone, or any faith, who uses religion to justify it."
"I abhor violence and condemn anyone, or any faith, who uses religion to justify it." Last month, the founder of the evangelical Protestant church on Belfast's Lough Shore told his congregation that a "new evil has risen" and that there were "cells of Muslims right throughout Britain". He also praised Enoch Powell as a prophet whose infamous Rivers of Blood speech was coming to pass in the UK with the rise of militant Islam.
Last month the founder of the evangelical Protestant church on Belfast's lough shore told his congregation that a "new evil has risen" and that there are "cells of Muslims right throughout Britain". He also praised Enoch Powell as a prophet whose infamous Rivers of Blood speech was coming to pass in the UK with the rise of militant Islam. Later on Friday, outside Newtonabbey PSNI station on the northern outskirts of Belfast, Pastor McConnell repeated his earlier statement that he had never intended to incite hatred against the Muslim community as well as his opposition to all violence.
Later on Friday outside Newtonabbey PSNI station on the northern outskirts of Belfast, Pastor McConnell repeated his earlier statement that he had never intended to incite hatred against the Muslim community as well as his opposition to all violence. As well as publicly apologising over his intervention in the Pastor McConnell controversy, Peter Robinson this week met Islamic leaders from across Ireland. His Democratic Unionist party also backed a Sinn Féin motion condemning the recent upsurge in racist attacks, which have mainly been focused in the Greater Belfast area.
As well as publicly apologising over his intervention in the Pastor McConnell controversy, Peter Robinson also met with Islamic leaders from across Ireland this week. His Democratic Unionist party also backed a Sinn Féin motion condemning the recent upsurge in racist attacks which have mainly been focussed in the Greater Belfast area. The Stormont parliament passed – without a formal vote – a motion calling for all parties to show leadership on the issue and urging the first and deputy first ministers to bring forward a racial equality strategy as a matter of urgency.
The Stormont parliament passed - without a formal vote - a motion calling for all parties to show leadership on the issue and urging the first and deputy first ministers to bring forward a racial equality strategy as a matter of urgency. Before that vote, relations between the first minister and the deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, already poisoned over the arrest of Gerry Adams in May, reached a new low with McGuinness accusing Robinson of not doing enough to stem the rising racist tide in the province.
Before that vote, relations between the first minister and the deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, already poisoned over the arrest of Gerry Adams in May, reached a new low with the latter accusing Robinson of not doing enough to stem the rising racist tide in the province.
Robinson intervened in the row because he sometimes worships at Pastor McConnell's church.Robinson intervened in the row because he sometimes worships at Pastor McConnell's church.
The controversy coincided with a rise in racist incidents including attacks on the home of two Pakistani men in north Belfast last weekend. The controversy coincided with a rise in racist incidents, including attacks on the home of two Pakistani men in north Belfast last weekend.
The majority, though not all, of the racially motivated attacks and intimidation have taken place in loyalist working class districts of Belfast. The majority, though not all, of the racially motivated attacks and intimidation have taken place in loyalist working-class districts of Belfast.