Pastor James McConnell.
First Minister Peter Robinson’s “gratuitously offensive” words in support of Pastor James McConnell’s attack on Muslims has “appalled” members of that religion living in Derry, Foyle SDLP Mark Durkan has said.
Mr Durkan said Mr Robinsons words were gratuitously offensive, “and not just to Muslims.”
Revealing he had spoken to Muslims living in Derry, Mr Durkan said the First Minister’s “glib play” on the phrase “…don’t trust politicians…” and the “sneering condescension” that he could trust Muslims “to go to the shops” or “give the right change” conveyed a “dire combination” of arrogance and prejudice.
I have spoken to Muslims in Derry who are not just appalled by Mr Robinson’s attempt to spin Pastor McConnell’s lines but feel violated by his contemptuous and contemptible tone.
Mr Durkan added: “I also know that many Christians feel embarrassment – and indeed resentment – that the ethic of their faith is misrepresented in the mischaracterisation of those of another faith.
First Minister Peter Robinson.
“Mr Robinson is now trying to say that his words were misrepresented.
“How? He, not the media, stirred outrage by trying to present and defend Pastor McConnell’s statements in what he thinks is an acceptable light.
“He claimed that the man who used words like ‘satanic.’ ‘new evil’ and ‘spawned in hell’ is the victim of demonisation. So we can all trust that politician to reverse reality.
“Trying to re-spin or re-package his own gratuitously offensive words will not wash while he still refuses to repudiate the gross misstatements of James McConnell.
“Peter Robinson needs to honour his Pledge of Office ‘to serve all the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the general obligations on government to promote equality and prevent discrimination.’
Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan.
“He is also pledged to comply with the Ministerial Code of Conduct, including to ‘operate in a way conducive to promoting good community relations and equality of treatment’.”
Mr Durkan said the First Minister should not have expressed himself or defended Pastor McConnell’s “vitriol” in the terms that he did.
He added: “It has taken public outrage – with international and commercial reaction as well – to bring him to try to mitigate the hurt and damage of his ill-chosen words.
“It is important that his now promised engagement with Muslim representatives here is not just about repairing the damage to his own image.
“He should undertake visible and honourable outreach and engagement jointly with the Deputy First Minister (and perhaps other Ministers too). This would show that he wants to repair the damage to the standing of our institutions, the reputation of our region and renew the proper spirit of the Pledge of Office.”
He concluded: “It would also mark a gesture of humility which might offer some reassurance – not just to Muslims – of a spirit of inclusion, respect, equality and sharing which has to be the working method of our governance.”
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