A new exhibit that showcases experiences faced by people from marginalised communities across Ireland has opened in City Hall, as Galway City Council looks to continue its efforts to combat racist attitudes and behaviours. The exhibition, which opens on Friday 21 March to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, features a series of comics that aim to share the often-harsh experiences faced by members of the Muslim community and open up a dialogue that champions diversity, equality, and inclusion.
The project lead, Dr. James Carr from the University of Limerick, says: “The exhibition is a poignant testament to the power of visual art as a tool for creating an understanding of our changing environment. It serves as a platform for the unheard by amplifying the narratives and lived experiences of our diverse communities through visual storytelling.”
The research project from the University of Limerick is also using innovative educational training to support the fight against anti-Muslim hatred in Ireland. The Sustainable Alliances Against Anti-Muslim Hatred (SALAAM) project – led by Dr. James Carr – aims to combat anti-Muslim hatred through the development of tools such as anti-racism training and a support directory, in conjunction with local authorities.
Funded by the European Commission, SALAAM has been developed in partnership with civil society organisations Doras, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and the Irish Network Against Racism. Underpinned by the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan (2020-2025), along with other key legislative and policy developments, SALAAM aims to complement the work of other EU-based civil society actors, working with local authorities and communities in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway.
“Working with partner local authorities and civil society organisations, and those directly impacted by this phenomenon, we designed anti-racism training resources that informed on how racism operates as a social process and, importantly, what people can do to combat racism and support those targeted”, continued Dr Carr.
Dr. Carr and his team also rolled out the Know Your Rights campaign arm of the project, seeking to educate communities and individuals about the existing policy measures in place to promote inclusion in Ireland – The Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, and the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty (Public Sector Duty).
Similarly, the Anti-Racism Training for Local Authority Staff in Ireland forms a key element of the SALAAM training resources. Informed by research involving multiple local authorities as well as experiences from Muslim communities in their service areas, this training has been designed to raise awareness of existing legislation and support mechanisms while also addressing the root causes and manifestations of racism.
Importantly, SALAAM has been rolled out in partnership with Muslim communities in each participating city, with this inclusive approach ensuring the work is informed by the perspectives of those targeted with anti-Muslim hatred.
Some of these perspectives have been captured in striking artwork by illustrator Soufeina Hamed, a Berlin-based artist who creates comics related to the topics of identity, racism, and Islamophobia. Soufeina brought these first-person accounts of anti-Muslim hatred to life in a series of powerful illustrations, which can now be viewed on display as part of the SALAAM project exhibition in City Hall.