PING!
Posted on 09/02/2006 6:35:26 PM PDT by GMMAC
Muslim leaders warn of riots
By Luke McIlveen and Steve Gee
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
September 02, 2006 02:36am
ISLAMIC leaders are trying to gag Prime Minister John Howard from speaking out against Muslims who refuse to integrate, threatening that any criticism of their culture could lead to another race riot.
But Mr Howard refused to back down - writing exclusively in today's Saturday Daily Telegraph that he believes a minority of Muslims must do more to fit in here.
The head of Mr Howard's own Muslim advisory council, Dr Ameer Ali, yesterday tried to shut down debate on whether Muslims should learn English and treat women as equals by raising the spectre of the shameful Cronulla riots.
Dr Ali warned: "We have already witnessed one incident in Sydney, in Cronulla. I don't want these scenes to be repeated because when you antagonise the younger generation they are bound to react."
Mr Howard also angered young female Muslim leader Iktimal Hage-Ali, who claimed he was targeting "a minority within a minority". Their criticisms came after Mr Howard said on Thursday that some Muslims refused to learn English and did not want to integrate. A defiant Mr Howard writes today that some Muslims are not doing enough to adhere to Australian customs of equality for women and a "fair go" for all.
"Ninety-nine per centy of the Islamic community of Australia has integrated and is part of the Australian community," he said.
"But I've said before there is a small section, and that is self-evident, that is unwilling to integrate and it's up to all of us to try and overcome that resistance."
Standing by his remarks yesterday, Mr Howard refused to apologise and warned those who are unwilling to fit in would be further marginalised.
"You can't get anywhere unless you learn English. It's the language of the nation. It's the passport to your future," he said.
"You can't get a job, you can't progress, you can't do anything without English and there can't be any compromising on that."
But Ms Hage-Ali, also a member of the Prime Minister's advisory group, said many non-Muslim immigrants also failed to learn to speak English.
"It is a religious group that he has identified. Muslims are already a minority, so effectively he is talking a about a minority within a minority," she said.
She said there were not enough free classes teaching new migrants English.
"There are resources but they cost money. How can they afford the fees?" she said. "I can't imagine an 80-year-old grandmother running out to learn English."
Speaking at the opening of a school hall at Eastwood Heights, Mr Howard said it was imperative that all migrants embraced "Australian values".
He denied targeting only Muslims, saying: "I haven't singled out anybody in particular."
Of the Muslim leaders offended by his comments, Mr Howard said: "They are missing the point and the point is that I don't care, and the Australian people don't care, where people come from."
PING!
How dare Howard assume muslims should make an effort to fit in! Doesn't he know that countries are now required to assimilate and change to what the immigrants want, not the other way around?
Learn English is a good start. Next up: renounce Islam. Perhaps at gunpoint.
I'm moving to Australia!
The West can either stop Islamic immigration, or it can die.
Once Christian dominance was achieved, the Moslems didn't, for the most part, go home. They stayed and converted.
Australia should find it quite easy to gain such compliance as long as they start early.
Dr Ali warned: "We have already witnessed one incident in Sydney, in Cronulla. I don't want these scenes to be repeated because when you antagonise the younger generation they are bound to react."
Howard should fire this so called advisor of his straight away!
Are Australians, for the most part, standing firm with PM Howard?
Look up the legal requirements. I did about 8 years ago.
"If I don't get my way I will hold my breath." ok.
Good for Howard to hold firm.
More about our friend, PM John Howard:)
It would be nice to hear strong statements like this coming out of our White House.
If you go to the White House website there is a Spanish version.
No other language. Only Spanish. Why?
Someone has to say these things and it may as well be John Howard. There doesn't seem to be any opposition from the opposition party. I guess they realise that Howard's sentiments are shared by the vast majority of Australians.
Maybe because we are drowing in about 20 million illegals about 80% from Mexico and Central America.
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