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Australia: Muslim anger erupts at Costello call to renounce terrorism
The Age ^ | 09/04/06 | Michelle Grattan

Posted on 09/03/2006 3:03:07 PM PDT by Pikamax

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.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: angrymuslims; rop; terrorism
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To: Cobra64

LOL! Good one! May I steal it? :)


61 posted on 09/03/2006 4:04:46 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (NY Slimes the paper of record for OBL!)
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To: Pikamax
If Australia's Muslims are moderate, they would have no problem with Australian values. This backlash makes me think in fact that they want to hold themselves apart from the Australian mainstream. If they desire to follow Islamist beliefs and observe the Sharia, there are countries where they are free to do so. But Australia is not the place for them.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

62 posted on 09/03/2006 4:05:27 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: McGavin999

I think a collective "shut up" would only be a temporary surprise to the muslims; that is, we are finally saying something in unison. However it is not a backbone, therefore something more effective will need to follow. There is no simple solution in dealing with them once you've allowed them to live in your country; they will not assimilate nor are their aims anywhere in the same arena. Their intent will be to usurp, then conquer and subjugate the West, like a cancer. None of which is in anyway of the slightest interest to us. Time will tell as to how the problem will be dealt with, the question is will the West tolerate being eaten slowly over time or will it do something to survive? I know what side I'm on, I just hope there's enough of us to fight this culture of death and servitude and preserve Western Civilization. Call me a Crusader if you wish...I consider it one of the finest compliments you can give a Western man.


63 posted on 09/03/2006 4:11:14 PM PDT by john drake (Roman military maxim; "oderint dum metuant," i.e., "let them hate, as long as they fear.")
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To: blam

"Muslims have problems everywhere they are found."

Muslims ARE problems everywhere they are found.


64 posted on 09/03/2006 4:11:19 PM PDT by outdriving (Diversity is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.)
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To: mosquewatch.com

CAIR is already having big problems. They've requested huge sums of $ from bin al-Talal and or others in order to begin a massive PR campaign. I say it is too late, even with ISNA's new female president. Our voices are beginning to be heard as are the voices of others around the globe. We must demand that Muslim leadership revise the Qur'an. Ahmed Younis (MPAC?) said that the words of the Qur'an relate to specific (his word) events in the 7th century. If that is what he truly believes, then he must put his neck on the line and publicly challenge the global Islamic community - all sects - as well as the MB. Of course, that will cause a global civil war amongst Muslims. Which would bother me not at all.


65 posted on 09/03/2006 4:16:43 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: goldstategop

I'm waiting for SCOTUS to be forced to confront the issue of shar'ia. It WILL happen. And they will find it unconstitutional.


66 posted on 09/03/2006 4:19:54 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: john drake
"Call me a Crusader if you wish...I consider it one of the finest compliments you can give a Western man."

Welcome to the club.

67 posted on 09/03/2006 4:21:03 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: Dark Skies
On the plus side, we know where they stand...the quicker we restrict thier immigration, the better....which brings up a thought, how come we allow these thugs into the country..
68 posted on 09/03/2006 4:21:52 PM PDT by thinking
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To: mosquewatch.com
You were on the thread regarding the violence which was threatened against muslims in the U.K., so you know exactly what I mean.

So far islam has raised h@ll with the world with relative impunity. That (the impunity) is gonna end.

Do I approve of vigilantism...actually, I would rather see our leadership deal effectively with this imbalance. But that isn't happening.

The lowest common denominator. The side opposing islam will fall to that level. Just the way the world works.

Islam has grossly misjudged its "enemy."

69 posted on 09/03/2006 4:22:53 PM PDT by Dark Skies
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To: Pikamax

Religion of peace my arse BUMP!


70 posted on 09/03/2006 4:23:11 PM PDT by conservativecorner
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To: thinking

They are already here...I foresee internment in their future.


71 posted on 09/03/2006 4:26:08 PM PDT by Dark Skies
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To: sageb1
You bring up many great point. This one though We must demand that Muslim leadership revise the Qur'an.

This means taking the second part of the koran out when the Jews/ Christians and pagans all told Mohammad to "sod off", and then he started jihad. It's not possible my friend.

You are asking Muslims to "Change the Word of Allah."

72 posted on 09/03/2006 4:28:00 PM PDT by mosquewatch.com (No Islam, Know peace.)
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To: mosquewatch.com

You are correct. But sometimes you gotta push the buttons. And it's time to do just that.


73 posted on 09/03/2006 4:35:07 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: D-Chivas
: 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.

I wish an American President had the stones to say this. Or any American legislator, for that matter.

74 posted on 09/03/2006 4:35:37 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (the war on poverty should include health club memberships for the morbidly poor)
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To: alice_in_bubbaland
LOL! Good one! May I steal it? :)

Ab-so-lutely!

75 posted on 09/03/2006 4:38:12 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Dark Skies
The lowest common denominator. The side opposing islam will fall to that level. Just the way the world works.

Bro, we are not falling to their level to save our necks!!!We are not the agressor. MUSLIMS ARE INVADING Britain, Australia, Israel, America, Russia, the list is endless. What ever happens is a direct RESPONSE to Islam.

I would protect my family from the mujahadin at any cost. You would as well.

Go online to paltalk, talk to some Coptic Christians that lived in Egypt, it will keep you up at nights.

The Christians in Egypt did nothing (turn the other cheek nonsense) they were slaughtered and still oppressed like pigs.

If our Government does not do something to protect the people from enemies foreign or DOMESTIC, I will join a Militia, and do it myself.

76 posted on 09/03/2006 4:39:10 PM PDT by mosquewatch.com (No Islam, Know peace.)
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To: Scotsman will be Free
So do I.

Carter in action screwing this country.


77 posted on 09/03/2006 4:39:45 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: freedumb2003
"I wish an American President had the stones to say this. Or any American legislator, for that matter."

I think it's time to start a massive letter-writing campaign. Mention to our Republican legislators that we are waiting for them to take a stand on this issue and that our donations will be forthcoming on the basis of that. Santorum has spoken out well. Have any others?

78 posted on 09/03/2006 4:41:27 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: sageb1

Maybe a big flash of light in New York will wake people up.


79 posted on 09/03/2006 4:41:47 PM PDT by mosquewatch.com (No Islam, Know peace.)
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To: mosquewatch.com

I believe Paltalk is the choice of Muslims for chat as well. Have you paid attention to those chatrooms?


80 posted on 09/03/2006 4:43:05 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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