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.
You talking to me?
I challenge you to tell me where I have ever indicated I would do otherwise.
Jury still out on whether I am your "bro."
Right. ;)
Muslims don't let me in their rooms with my current nicname lol.
I installed PalTalk years ago on a different computer. Too many ads. I uninstalled it.
No argument with you what so ever :) Just don't think we are sinking to "Their" level , just to stay alive. :) It's only our heads on the line. :(
Yup if you don't pay for it, they will ad and popup you to death. lol agreed!
What a great way to live ! (sarc off)
I can't think of any -- and you're right.
"Christianity as a religion is intolerant. That's a fact. The Bible talks of god seperating the sheep to his right and goats to his left. But in Acts, the Bible tells me, as an Christian individual, to be tolerant of sinners, but that doesn't mean actually accepting them. It means that I shouldn't turn my face from them, it means I shouldn't abandon them. If anything, I shouldn't give up on them. But changing a heart involves rebuking and strong messages."
Yes, but ... in the absence of non-Muslims, anywhere Muslims are found with other Muslims they find plenty of reason to fight among themselves - ex: Baghdad. If we put them all in one place and fenced them in, do you think they would self-destruct?
In my opinion they would join together and fight the people that "fenced them in." And it also depends on how many Muslims are interned and how religious they are.
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
In a word, France.
People like this are the useful idiots of islam. Ignorant stooges that islam and muslims will use for our collective deaths.
I got the impression he was addressing the common Muslim in the street, not the "leaders".
What Muslim "leaders" say, is as relevant as what "leaders" like Jesse, Al, & Louis have to say "for their communities".
And, like Jesse etc, they probably say it to OUR leaders, rather than to "their people", who get told something quite different.
Yes, that is correct. That is just normal Muslim outrage.
For it to count as terrorism, they have wear official non-uniform uniforms, and be yelling, "Allahu Akbar; convert or die, Inshallah, Infidel pig!"
You are so totally right with your statement.
GOD BLESS THE USA!!
I notice that they knew who their friends were; never any hint about the target possibly being the Supreme Court.
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