Death of Dlava Mohamed ‘shook Muslim community and Ireland’

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The prayer service for one of two teenage girls who died in a car crash in Co Monaghan have heard the incident “shook the entire Muslim community and the entire people of Ireland”.

Sixteen-year-old Dlava Mohamed died when the car she was travelling in left the road and crashed into a tree just outside Clones, Co Monaghan, on Monday.

Her best friend Kiea McCann, 17, also died in the crash.

They were on the way to their school’s Debs ball when the crash happened.

Funeral prayers for Dlava were held at the Clonskeagh Mosque and Cultural Centre in Dublin ahead of burial in Newcastle Muslim Cemetery later on Thursday.

A hearse carrying Dlava’s remains in a white coffin left the family home in Clones early on Thursday for the two-hour journey to the mosque.

A coach transporting family and friends of the teenager followed the cortege to Dublin.

When it arrived, her body was washed and shrouded according to Islamic tradition in five pieces of white cloth.

Her family then spent time with her in private until the funeral prayer, which began shortly before 2pm.

Students from Largy College, family members and deputy principal of Largy College Michael Killen were among the hundreds of mourners who attended the public service.

The coffin was placed at the top of the prayer hall as mourners expressed their sympathies to Dlava’s father and brother.

Sheikh Hussein Halawa said her death “shook” the Muslim community and the people of Ireland.

He added: “I would like to offer mt sincere condolences to the father, mother and all family members”.

The service followed solemn scenes in Clones on Wednesday, when hundreds of people formed a guard of honour in Clones for Dlava.

Members of the community gathered in the town square as the hearse returned her to her family home on Wednesday.

After Thursday’s ceremony, Dr Ali Selim, a senior member of staff at the Islamic Cultural Centre, said the tragedy had shocked the Muslim community across Ireland.“It’s a very sad day, especially when you think of the circumstances of the (Mohamed) family,” he said.

“They ran away from Syria because they didn’t feel safe, looking for protection, and unfortunately the place where they thought they would be safe, they were hit with this tragedy.

“It’s shocking for the community. I’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the whole family and the friends as well.

“The family members at this moment, they are unaware of the real sadness that they are going to face because there are a lot of people around them, but I believe by the time they’re sitting around the table, and she’s not there for dinner, or when they go in her room, and she’s not in her room, that’s the time when they feel it and that’s the time when they need support from everybody.”

Students from Largy College formed a guard of honour as her coffin was carried from the Islamic Cultural Centre for burial.