20.06.2017
Migrants Who Have Died in the Mediterranean Remembered in Dublin on World Refugee Day
Today, Tuesday June 20, is World Refugee Day. To mark the date Dublin City Interfaith Forum organised an Interfaith Service to remember, through prayers and readings, the migrants who have lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
The service took place at the Famine Monument on Customs House Quay in Dublin, a place from which many Irish migrants left this country to find better lives.
Representatives of many of Dublin’s faith communities took part in the service including Baha’i, Zen–Buddhist, Christian, Hebrew, Hindu, Indian Orthodox, Redeemed Christian Church, Muslim and Sikh.
Leading the service, DCIF member Colm Reilly of the Baha’i community, said it was startling to learn that there has never in the history of the world been so many refugees and displaced people on the move as we do today. He said that while there were no world wars taking place, wars, conflicts, famine and the effects of climate change were forcing people to flee their homes.
Mr Reilly said that nobody chose to leave their homes and their possessions, they were forced to do so. He added that the perception of people here was that those arriving on our shores were penniless. He said that while they had no money, they had many gifts and skills to bring to society.
“We remember our common brothers and sisters who are forced to leave their homes and that they test our humanity,” he stated. “There are over 67 million people who are migrants today and they don’t choose to be but they contribute to society where they are. As we place candles at this monument let us remember all migrants’ unique trauma and particularly those who have passed away on their journey across the Mediterranean.”
You can read the readings and prayers here.
