The Muslim leaders unanimously rejected terrorism and distanced themselves from radical clerics who have recently praised terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. Mr Howard said the Government would explore with the Muslim community the education and sourcing of clerics (imams). "We do believe that more can be done to bring an Australia's perspective to that," Mr Howard said.The summit also discussed how to promote tolerance and prevent extremism in Australia's 29 Islamic schools, while allowing the schools to manage their own affairs. "We have sought as part of the dialogue advice from the Islamic community as to ways in which we can be totally satisfied that the appropriate denunciations and repudiations of terrorism occur," Mr Howard said.
More than 12,800 students attend Islamic schools, which receive about $100 million annually in commonwealth and state funding. Principal of the Islamic School of Brisbane, Dr Mubarak Noor, said he would support any moves to teach tolerance. "We teach peace, harmony and coexistence and mutual respect of every faith," Dr Noor said. The school often hosted visits by Christian and government school students, and opened its doors to the community to improve understanding, he said. The 380-student school also vetted books to ensure objectionable material did not appear in its library, Dr Noor said.
President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Dr Ameer Ali, said the Muslim community had an unreserved commitment to the safety of all Australians, and a harmonious society for all. "There is no place for hatred, there is no place for terrorism, there is no place for violence in this country," he said. He described comments by radical clerics in support of bin Laden as stupid. "His activities are not welcome, there's no reservation in that, he is not an accepted Muslim leader," Dr Ali said.
The Government has also agreed to give Muslims a say on education, welfare, health and justice policies through a new informal body chaired by Multicultural Affairs Minister John Cobb. Mr Cobb, who only took up a ministry position last month, is expected to hold meetings with Muslim community representatives in Melbourne and Adelaide next week. The summit agreed a statement of principles to guide the way the government and community dealt with the threat of terrorism. "There is a problem, there is a concern, that a small section of the Islamic community of this country could be the source of terrorism," Mr Howard said.
The statement, unanimously backed by all those at the meeting, reinforced that "overriding loyalty to Australia and a commitment to its traditions, values and institutions is the common bond that unites us all". Mr Howard said the issue of commonwealth vilification laws had been raised, but he had reservations about such legislation.