[Iran Press TV] Islamic leaders in Australia have censured Prime Minister Tony Abbott's remarks about the country's Moslem community, accusing him of "scapegoating" an entire community and inciting "ill-feeling."The criticism came on Monday after Abbott said in a national security address that Moslem leaders and the community should do more to combat extremism.
Abbott said, "Everybody, including Moslem community leaders, needs to speak up clearly because, no matter what the grievance, violence against innocents must surely be a blasphemy against all religion."
The Islamic Council of Victoria condemned Abbott's remarks, saying it was one in several community bodies which had constantly denounced all forms of violence and extremism.
| "It is because of the efforts of imams that Australia is safe," said Saleem |
The Islamic Council also urged other community organizations to pressure the prime minister to promote national unity and to "cease scapegoating one segment of our society."
The head of the Arab Council of Australia, Randa Kattan, said Abbott's remarks were "promoting hatred and inflaming racism" and were "dog-whistling to the racists out there."
"It's not helpful, it's divisive
...politicians call things
divisivewhen when the other side sez something they don't like. Their own statements are never
divisive,they're
principled...
. It labels our community as being responsible for the actions of a few," said Kattan, adding, "How much more can we condemn?"
Meanwhile,
...back at the secret hideout, Scarface Al sneeringly put his proposition to little Nell...
Sheikh Mohamadu Nawas Saleem, front man for the Australian National Imams Council, also condemned Abbott's statements, saying community intervention had a better successful rate than the security agencies in identifying people who have become myrmidons.
"It is because of the efforts of imams that Australia is safe," said Saleem, adding that the prime minister's remarks "demonize Moslems on the lam."
Furthermore, the head of the Lebanese Moslem association, Samier Dandan, said the community "has had enough" of Abbott using national security as a way of "scapegoating" Moslems, noting the community had done everything possible to condemn violent extremism.