Mr. Mohamad Farah:

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to attend this event. I am the chair of the African migrant committee and reside in Donegal. I have worked in human rights for the last 15 years. Currently, I work with the Donegal Intercultural Platform as a philanthropist.

I am delighted to attend this meeting this evening. I need to talk about how we can tackle or reduce the current blight of anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment. Before I speak on that, I would like to mention why immigrants and asylum seekers are coming to Ireland and European countries.

Individuals may leave their countries to escape persecution and discrimination based on their race, religion, political beliefs and membership of a particular social group. This includes threats to their safety, arrest, torture or even death. Also, some people leave their countries due to war conflicts. People may flee their home countries due to violence, armed conflicts and war, which can result in death, the destruction of property and the breakdown of social and economic systems. That is why many people seek asylum and become refugees in Ireland.

Let me contribute how to protect against and prevent these far-right sentiments. Preventing the rise of far-right extremists and anti-immigrant sentiments is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. I will make some points that I think can reduce or eliminate some of this kind of hate speech. First is education and awareness. Raising awareness about positive contributions that immigrants and asylum seekers make in society can help to combat the negative stereotypes and misinformation that fuels far-right education and demonstrations. An education campaign that promotes tolerance and diversity can help to foster a greater understanding and acceptance of different culture and backgrounds.

Second is media responsibility. The media has a significant role in politics in shaping public opinion and perceptions of immigrants and asylum seekers. Encouraging media outlets to be responsible for their reporting and not to sensationalise issues related to immigration can help to prevent the far right from exploiting this narrative to spread their message.

The third one is political leadership. Political leaders have a responsibility to ensure that public discourse remains respectful and inclusive. Political leadership can make steps to counter anti-immigrant sentiments by promoting a policy that supports integration and by providing funding for initiatives to promote tolerance and social coherence.

The fourth one is community engagement. Building a strong relationship with the community and ensuring that people feel included and valued can help to prevent the far right from exploiting feelings of isolation. Resettlement and encouraging community engagement to support a local initiative to promote a social conscience and understanding can help control the narrative of the far right.

The last one is law enforcement. Law enforcement-----