A IMAGE SPREAD online that appears to promote a joint People Before Profit-Sinn Féin shared immigration policy is fake. Both parties denied producing such an image.

The subject of immigration has been a hot topic in recent years following a record number of people seeking asylum and more than 100,000 refugees arriving from Ukraine.

However, the government is not alone in receiving criticism along these lines. Sinn Féin has long been a target of far-right groups who had criticised its policies on immigration as being left-wing, or too similar to the government’s. 

More recently, Sinn Féin’s has been accused of pivoting to the right on this issue to capture votes from dissatisfied voters in anticipation of a general election, including by members of People Before Profit (PBP).

Sinn Féin’s updated immigration policy was announced in July in an attempt to clarify how their stance differed from the government and included plans to see greater enforcement of deportation orders. 

 But in recent days, a fake image has been shared online in a likely attempt to present Sinn Féin as being more progressive on immigration in an apparent attempt to link the party to People Before Profit, a socialist party with strongly pro-migrant policies.

“Ireland is fairly a sparsely populated island,” the leaflet, which features both parties’ logos, begins. “There’s lots of room for more of those fleeing war and persecution.”

“Say it loud, say it clear,” it continues. “Refugees are welcome here. Kilkenny says yes. Waterford says yes. Laois says yes.” 

Posts accompanying the picture disparaged the message on the poster.

“Strict instructions have been sent down to local SF cumanns (from central HQ), instructing them to stay away (avoid) the refugee issue on social media etc. with such an election looming [sic],” one such post on Facebook reads.

However, reverse image searches on Google do not show any instances of such a poster ever being used by either Sinn Féin or People Before Profit, and both parties deny that they had made it.

“This was not produced by Sinn Féin,” the party’s press office said when The Journal inquired about the image.

“People Before Profit have not produced that leaflet,” Kieran Allen, PBP secretary, told The Journal, noting that the image uses an old version of their logo featuring two hands clasped together.

Misleading claims about Sinn Féin’s stance toward immigration are common. 

Images of Sinn Féin’s leader Mary Lou McDonald, which have been fabricated to make it appear as though she is wearing a burka, have recently been shared among far-right social media groups.

The Journal has previously debunked fake ads shared on social media that purport to show Sinn Féin selling “burkas” featuring its logo via the party’s online shop.

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