| Submit your comments on this article | |||
| Down Under | |||
| Australian Muslim leaders: "Iraq policy 'alienates Muslims' | |||
| 2005-08-23 | |||
| ISLAMIC leaders at today's terrorism summit say Australia's military presence in Iraq is a prime cause of the alienation of the nation's Muslims, with some seeing it as "betrayal". As Islamic leaders gathered to meet Prime Minister John Howard for a summit today in Canberra to discuss the threat of "home-grown" terrorists, the presence of Australian troops in Iraq was raised by some as a key factor in the potential alienation of young Muslims. Muslim Women's National Network president Aziza Abdel Halim said many young people were attracted to radical preaching because of Western involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They see that as a sort of betrayal, that Australia has committed itself to fighting against Muslims in Afghanistan (and) in Iraq," Ms Halim said. In a statement from the Islamic Council of New South Wales, representing 40 different groups, acting president Ali Roude says it is natural for Australian Muslims to feel sympathy for fellow Muslims elsewhere in the world and to desire justice for those living under oppression. "We insist that the current debate concerning terrorism should be correctly discussed within its global context," the statement, read on ABC radio, says. "We are concerned that the Australian people are unaware of the concerns within the Muslim community regarding Australia's ongoing commitment to military operations within key Muslim communities within Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today's summit comes in the wake of the deadly London terrorist attacks last month, which were perpetrated by British-born Muslims who became involved with terrorist networks in Britain. Mr Howard has been criticised for leaving extremist Islamic leaders out of the summit, but has said he does not want to provide a platform for extremists. Another conference delegate, Yasmin Khan, founder of the Queensland Islamic welfare group I-CARE, said Australian involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was only partly responsible for Muslim resentment. "I don't know that you could necessarily say, 'Well, let's pull our troops out of Iraq and everything is going to be fine tomorrow,'" she told ABC radio. "That's part of it and I don't necessarily think that that's just exclusive to Muslims either. There are plenty of white mainstream Australians that are saying pull our troops out."
| |||
| Posted by:Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World |
| #7 BULLSHIT |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-08-23 22:31 |
| #6 These leaders are right. We are alienating the mf's from the maases and killing them. A great plan it is! |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-08-23 18:58 |
| #5 Oh whaaaaahh, Muslims alienate muslims. 'Nuff said! |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-08-23 14:52 |
| #4 Actually, Muslim policies (and actions) probably alienate Australians. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-08-23 11:32 |
| #3 ISLAMIC leaders at today's terrorism summit say Australia's military presence in Iraq is a prime cause of the alienation of the nation's Muslims, with some seeing it as "betrayal". Wait a minute.....I thought it was always "The Occupation"&trade (as in Paleo Land) that was the big reason for Muslim "alienation"... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-23 10:32 |
| #2 I'm not sure it's even possible to alienate muslims any further than they already are. At this point, Martians are less alien. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-08-23 10:15 |
| #1 Iraqi Islamic Council of Australia president Mohammed Taha Alsalami said he believed Australian troops should stay the distance in Iraq. "I think the troops should stay there," he said. "(Pulling troops out) is not the opinion of the Iraqi people, not the opinion of the Iraqi Australians here, because that would give the green light to the Taliban-like bodies to take control." Wow! That's headline material! |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-08-23 03:44 |