Posted on 11/07/2005 8:40:29 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
The Muslim community has reacted with surprise at the overnight counter-terrorism raids, in which 16 people have been arrested.
The raids were conducted by as many as 400 police in Melbourne and Sydney.
Keysar Trad, of the Islamic Friendship Association, was in south-western Sydney on a street where some of the arrests were made.
He says it was both traumatic and dramatic for neighbours.
"A number of people gathered on the front yard of their homes not knowing what to do," he said.
"Just the impact of something like this can leave people confused and dumbfounded for a period of time."
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils chief executive officer Ahmjad Mehboob says he did not know the people who were arrested.
"We were all surprised like everybody else, [but] I don't know, personally I don't know very much," he said.
But he says after the political events of last week, people were expecting something like today's raids would happen.
Mr Mehboob says he was aware of a number of people being followed or pursued by authorities, mainly because of recent media reports of their involvement with proscribed organisations.
He says it is a serious situation.
"This is of course a very big surprise to the Muslim community that you know this happened," he said.
"But I guess for some people it wasn't, because the way events have been unfolding in the last week or so - there was some expectation that something like that would occur."
Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Waleed Aly says he does not have a problem with police making the raids
"Provided they execute their powers responsibly and are held accountable for their execution of their powers, I don't think that we can be heard to complain about that," he said.
"At the very least the positive that has come out of events overnight is that we're going to see some charges laid, we're going to see prosecutions and we're going to have a chance for the people who are raided to defend themselves."
But Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network Dr Waleed Kadous says he is is concerned mistakes could have been made in this morning's raids.
"There have been several instances where ASIO and AFP have got it wrong and that's what we're concerned about today," he said.
"That several innocent people could have been affected by these raids and that is always our concern because a lot of this work is based on intelligence.
"Intelligence is not always perfect and that can create difficulties and hardship."
Yea, right.
L
Good. Surprised is how we want the moose-limbs to be.
"But Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network Dr Waleed Kadous says he is is concerned mistakes could have been made in this morning's raids. "
Of course he was... Couldn't have possibly been the adherents of Religeon of Peace(tm)...
Memo to mooligans: This ain't France.
He also said they'd be short a few players for that night's poker game, if anyone wanted to sit in. >:-)
How about a ST Valentines day Massacre here. That I'm sorry to say is the only thing they do understand.
While a park bench may have been enough for Beckett, it seems that our more advanced and jaded world will require an auditorium.
Perhaps have a long talk amongst yourselves about how well your religion of peace deal has been going the last few years.
Maybe give up that cult and find a real faith.
What I don't get it? Arrest just a bunch of peace-loving Islamist? For what reason? This is an outrage. I demand justice! They are innocent! The plot to kill an infidel is a holy war....how dare they intervene.
Oh, and a mass terror attack -- by MUSLIMS!!! -- won't leave people confused and dumbfounded.
Oh, wait, that's the idea. See, if Muslims do it to infidels, it's OK to create confusion and dumbfoundedness...
No cheers, unfortunately.
Just more crap from CRAP (Cult/Religion of Allah/Peace).
:-)
---
I think the acronym CRAP works much better than TROP (The Religion of Peace).
If Atta and company had been rounded up prior to 9-11, they would be called innocent victims of islamophobia by the MSM.
Here is something to go along with that:
this should be in humor section
Good for Australia! You guys have a strong moral compass and a strong practical sense. You take action when action is important for the freedom and safety of your country country and the world. The need to thwart the terrorist cells among you is surely such a time
"innocent Muslim"=
one who has ran out of ammuntion or doesn't have the technical ability to build an IED
Amen. Bravo for Australia. The mooslimbs are finding out the Aussies are not French.
re: "Just the impact of something like this can leave people confused and dumbfounded for a period of time."
Yes it certainly can. Just ask the people of New York, Washington DC and rural Pennsylvania! What goes around comes around!
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