A Muslim extremist has again dishonored the memory of fallen soldiers by reactivating a heartless campaign on Facebook. As the bodies of three Diggers killed by a rogue Afghan soldier returned home this week, Ibrahim Siddiq-Conlon outraged the grieving families by launching a cruel Facebook page attacking the men.The controversial site - The Australian Defence Force: The Real Terrorists - listed the names of each of the 32 Australians to die in Afghanistan and accused them of being terrorists because of their military service. The site was removed after the ADF received complaints and informed the Australian Federal Police and Facebook.
In a provocative move, Mr Siddiq-Conlon last night reactivated the page before it was removed by authorities yet again. The AFP had been evaluating the material to assess whether a criminal offence had been committed.
The unapologetic Muslim convert, who got death threats soon after creating the site, has continued to trash dead Diggers by posting hateful messages on other Facebook pages.
"May they rot in hell," he wrote in one post. In another message he wrote: "I hope I got your blood boiling. That's what I like. It's my hobby. My fun. My pleasure."
Australian-born Mr Siddiq-Conlon, formerly known as Shannon James Conlon, also called his grandfathers terrorists because of their service for the Australian Army in Kokoda and the Middle East. He has said he was proud of being referred to as an "extremist" and "terrorist supporter".
Felix Sher, the outraged father of a soldier killed in a 2009 Taliban attack, said he was devastated. He said, "Our soldiers are defenders and protectors, unlike many in other countries who are invaders. The greatest freedom in Australia is that you can leave it when you like - and Mr Siddiq-Conlon should exercise that as soon as possible. When you start preaching hate who needs you around?"
Mr Siddiq-Conlon refused to back down yesterday over the website. He said it was meant to "spark a debate" about bringing the troops home from Afghanistan. In an email to the Herald Sun he wrote, "I say: If the Australian soldiers don't want to get hurt, then don't go to Afghanistan. Stay out of the Muslims (sic) lands, or naturally they will suffer the consequences from the brave mujahideen whom defend their lands ferociously."