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September 05, 2006
Muslims Get Hissy When Asked To Renounce Terrorism
Muslim anger erupts at Costello call to renounce terrorism
Muslim leaders have lashed out at Peter Costello, after the federal Treasurer called on them to condemn terrorism "unequivocally", and speak out plainly and clearly against radicals in their community.
Mr Costello said they should "make it clear to would-be converts that when you join this religion you do not join a radical political ideology".
But Muslim representatives said last night Mr Costello had not taken notice of what had already been said, and did not communicate with them.
Yasser Soliman, president of the Islamic Family and Childcare Agency in Victoria, said the Government's Muslim Community Reference Group had "pledged loyalty to this country and condemned extremism and terrorism". The Muslim leadership had done this repeatedly.
"Obviously Mr Costello is not in touch with the people he's talking about — he's never bothered to talk with them," he said.
Waleed Aly, board member of the Islamic Council of Victoria, said Muslim community leaders had been "speaking out unequivocally against terrorism pretty loudly and continuously for five years. If the Treasurer hasn't heard that yet, I'm not sure what it will take."
The chairman of the Muslim Community Reference Group, Ameer Ali, said Mr Costello's remarks were "provocative, divisive and mischievous".
Malcolm Thomas, president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, said Muslim leaders did condemn terrorism all the time. The Muslim leadership would like Mr Costello to meet with them. "He's been quite critical of the Muslim community but noticeable by his absence in any engagement," Mr Thomas said.
This is not the first time Muslim leaders have clashed with Mr Costello. They were angered by remarks he made earlier this year about Sharia law and other matters.
The latest Government pressure on Muslim leaders to step up their efforts against radicals comes after Prime Minister John Howard last week drew a sharp reaction from some Muslim leaders when he said a small section of the Islamic population in Australia "is very resistant to integration".
Fully integrating included learning English and treating women as equals.
Mr Costello said he agreed with Mr Howard.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, when asked about Mr Costello's comments, said that "if people choose not to denounce terrorism … that draws attention to them and people wonder why would somebody not renounce terrorism".
Mr Costello told Channel Nine a minority of Muslims had been radicalised, and sought to prey on young people "with a very radical and dangerous ideology".
"It is very, very important that the leadership in Australia are very clear and very precise that this is not really Islam … and that terrorists are always to be condemned."
Some radicals tried to "disassimilate" even those born in Australia, Mr Costello said. "We have seen in this country that would-be terrorists can be born in this country … and can fall under the influence of radicals, be disassimilated and turned to terrorist purposes. This is where we really need the Islamic leadership to stand up and … make it clear that terrorism is never justified under the cover of religion."
Andrew Robb, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs said some Muslim leaders were their community's "worst enemies" because they fostered a "victim" mentality.
Mr Robb told The Age that the reaction of some Muslim leaders against the PM's comments was "reinforcing" that mentality.
What Peter Costello said about Sharia Law in 2005: PETER COSTELLO: What I've said is that this is a country, which is founded on a democracy. According to our Constitution, we have a secular state. Our laws are made by the Australian Parliament. If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you. This is not the kind of country where you would feel comfortable if you were opposed to democracy, parliamentary law, independent courts and so I would say to people who don't feel comfortable with those values there might be other countries where they'd feel more comfortable with their own values or beliefs.TONY JONES: It sounds like you're inviting Muslims who don't want to integrate to go to another country. Is it as simple as that?
PETER COSTELLO: No. I'm saying if you are thinking of coming to Australia, you ought to know what Australian values are.
TONY JONES: But what about if you're already here and you don't want to integrate?
PETER COSTELLO: Well, I'll come to that in a moment. But there are some clerics who have been quoted as saying they recognise two laws. They recognise Australian law and Sharia law. There's only one law in Australia, it's the Australian law. For those coming to Australia, I think we ought to be very clear about that. We expect them to recognise only one law and to observe it.
Now, for those who are born in Australia, I'd make the same point. This is a country which has a Constitution. Under its Constitution, the state is secular. Under its constitution, the law is made by the parliament. Under its Constitution, it's enforced by the judiciary. These are Australian values and they're not going to change and we would expect people, when they come to Australia or if they are born in Australia, to respect those values.
TONY JONES: I take it that if you're a dual citizen and you have the opportunity to leave and you don't like Australian values, you're encouraging them to go away; is that right?
PETER COSTELLO: Well, if you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country which practises it, perhaps then that's a better option.
Wild Thing's comments.......
The "Religion of Perpetual Outrage" better known as the Death Cult. I am fed up with this BS. If we don't get serious about taking the fight to these cowards, we will lose this war. Islam is completely INTOLERANT, and thus completely INCOMPATIBLE with Western culture and governance.
They'll probably show 'em they aren't terrorists by bombing some buildings and setting fire to many cars and maybe killing a person or two.
In this next election I am praying we get an American President that has the stones to say this. Or any American legislator, for that matter.
Posted by Wild Thing at September 5, 2006 01:55 AM
Comments
Chrissy
It can not be said any better or with more truth than your words. So I will leave it at that and a God love you and your decent honesty.
Posted by: Jack Hamilton at September 5, 2006 07:48 AM
The facts remain the same..Islam is not compatable with freedom and the ragheads are never going to admit this.
We have two options down the road..either fight to remain free or accept Islam. I am stockpiling ammo
Posted by: GUYK at September 5, 2006 07:57 AM
It will take a major uprising in the streets to get the attention of our pacifists, even then they'll blame their failures on American policies. That is the liberal way of thinking, never admit they are wrong, blame America and appease Satan, even if it means their own deaths. I'll go now and dream about that Ma Deuce with the Conex full of AP incendaries for it that I wish I had. Now if any of you meat eaters want's some Duster practice I know just the place to go. Or just pick one!!!
Posted by: Jack at September 5, 2006 11:08 AM
I am saying the same prayers Chrissie. And, I have a Springfield Armory M1A with match ammo if it comes to that. My ammo will be dipped in bacon fat.
Posted by: TomR at September 5, 2006 06:28 PM
Thank you Jack H. that means a lot to me.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 5, 2006 06:35 PM
GUY, good idea. I need to do that. Nick and I keep putting it off. We have some but not what we should have. Thank you!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 5, 2006 06:36 PM
Good one Jack!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 5, 2006 06:37 PM
Tom giggle..."dipped in bacon fat."...love that idea.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 5, 2006 06:38 PM
Revelation 6:4 -- And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Posted by: BobF at September 5, 2006 09:39 PM
