An Islamic organization in Australia is taking the countryÂ’s intelligence services to court over what it calls "constant harassment" and "bullying" against Muslims in the country.In a press release, the Islamic Society of the Australian state of Victoria that they would press their case against security agents, who they said have been approaching Muslims daily, offering them jobs and demanding personal information.
| Offering jobs? The horror! |
Baha Yehia, secretary of the Islamic Society of Victoria, said that the group plans to go to Canberra with their case if the issue cannot be resolved in Melbourne.
On Radio Australia, Yehia said that congregants are becoming more forceful in their refusal to speak with intelligence agents. He said, "People are more aware now and people know now that they can say no to ASIO – we don’t have to speak to you and we don’t want to speak to you."
But there are concerns that the mosque itself is a location of radicalism, where seven alleged members of the mosque were arrested and charged with belonging to a terrorist organization in 2008.
Yehia disavowed their membership, saying, "None of these people used to practise or preach at the mosque. They used to attend the mosque. You know, mosques have a different structure than churches."
Yehia added that many congregants are being approached, despite public statements by ASIO that they are not against Islam. Yehia stated, "ThereÂ’s a bit of mistrust in the community because nobody knows who is working for ASIO, because a lot of people have been approached. And theyÂ’ve also been asked to work for ASIO."
| See also: Hizb ut-Tahrir urging Muslims not to talk to ASIO unless legally required |