Attacks on Indians in Ireland | Irish President Michael D Higgins on Tuesday issued a strong condemnation of recent violent attacks targeting members of the Indian community in Ireland, describing them as “despicable” and contrary to the country’s values. His statement follows a series of assaults, including the latest attack on a six-year-old Indian girl who was reportedly assaulted by a group of children.
“As President of Ireland, may I take the opportunity at this time of stress for some of their community to express the deep sense of gratitude we all in Ireland owe to the Indian community here. We are all mindful of the immense contribution this community has made, and continues to make, to so many aspects of Irish life, in medicine, nursing, the caring professions, in cultural life, in business and enterprise, to cite just some. Their presence, their work, their culture, have been a source of enrichment and generosity to our shared life,” the president said.
He also highlighted the long-standing connections between Ireland and India, noting that they are “neither recent nor superficial.” “Earlier this year, I met with the Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and we discussed how much our histories share the experience of paths towards independence, the role of Irish woman Margaret Cousins in establishing the All India Women’s Conference, the exchange of expertise as both countries drafted and agreed our Constitutions, and the fostering of diplomatic and political relationships over the decades, relationships which remain vibrant today,” Higgins said.
Condemnation of violence and call for shared values
Addressing the recent incidents, President Higgins said, “The recent despicable attacks on members of the Indian community stand in stark contradiction to the values that we as a people hold dear. That any person in Ireland, particularly any young person, should be drawn into such behaviour through manipulation or provocation is to be unequivocally condemned. Whether such provocation stems from ignorance or from malice, it is essential to acknowledge the harm that it is causing. Such acts diminish all of us and obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to the life of this country.”
He further stressed that Ireland’s own history of migration should guide its treatment of those who come to live there. “Those who left our shores carried our culture and values into faraway lands, often depending on the generosity of strangers. That shared human experience should remain at the heart of how we treat those who have come to make their lives here. To forget that is to lose a part of ourselves,” he said.
Highlighting the dangers of online hate and attack on Indians in Ireland, Higgins added: “Our shared spaces — including social media platforms — should never be poisoned from messages of hate or incitement to violence. Such messages not only target individuals, but also damage and corrode the most fundamental and enduring instincts of Irishness: those of hospitality, friendship, and care for others. These principles must apply to all who form part of Irish society today, without exception. An Ireland that honours these values is one in which all communities can live in safety, dignity, and mutual respect.”
Rising incidents prompt embassy advisory
The president’s remarks come amid a surge in racist attacks against Indians in Ireland over the past month, prompting the Indian embassy in Dublin to issue an advisory and emergency helpline numbers for its citizens. In July alone, at least three violent assaults on Indian nationals were reported, each involving group attacks.
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris also expressed support for the Indian community, stating on Monday, “Today, I met representatives of Ireland’s Indian community. I completely condemn the despicable acts of violence and racism that we have seen against some members of the Indian community in recent weeks.”
