Diana Abdel-Rahman, president of the Australian Muslim Voice in Canberra, says the Muslim community has “very deep concerns” about the Abbott government using its counter-terrorism policy as a “political wedge” to evoke anxiety.
Evoke anxiety! The way I see it is that it’s the Muslims provoking anxiety. 9/11, Bali; Jakarta, London, happy snaps with son holding severed head and then there is this little list.
- 2003-04: An investigation of Faheem Lodhi found he was plotting to bomb the national electricity grid or defence sites; he was convicted of terrorism offences.
- 2005: Nine individuals were arrested in Sydney after sourcing chemicals and materials for use in the preparation of an explosive device; possession or attempted purchase of firearms and ammunition; and possession of large quantities of extremist material. All were convicted of terrorism offences.
- 2005: 13 individuals were arrested in Melbourne and charged with plotting mass casualty attacks, with the intention of coercing the Australian Government to withdraw from Iraq. Nine individuals were convicted of terrorism offences.
- 2009: Five men charged with conspiracy for preparation for an attack using firearms on Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney. Three were convicted.
- 2014: In response to intelligence revealing an alleged plot to kill a random member of the public, entry and search operations were conducted on multiple occasions in Sydney.
- 2014: Lindt Cafe Seige. On the morning of December 15, 2014, a self-styled spiritual healer, clairvoyant and sheikh who had arrived in Australia from Iran in 1996 under the name of Mohammad Hassan Manteghi, took staff and customers hostage at gunpoint inside the Lindt cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place. When the smoke cleared away there were two hostages dead and Monis was killed.
But wait, there’s more;
Authorities believe that around 150 Australians are currently fighting alongside ISIS in Iraq and Syria, making the country the highest foreign per capita contributor to the violence. Many more have left the country for the Middle East in recent weeks, though their intent in doing so has not yet been determined.
And Abbott is evoking anxiety. God give me strength!
She continues;
“I believe the language that he uses and the tone that he uses, the consistency of the words that he uses … (is) as if he is taking advantage of a situation to heighten the levels of fear in the community to a point that it can be perceived as being racist,” Ms Abdel-Rahman said.
Technically she is wrong. If Abbott’s legislation was targeting Lebanese, Syrian, or Iranian nationals then she might have a case but Islam is a religion followed by Muslims of all nationalities so targeting them may be lots of things, but it isn’t racist.
The levels of fear have been evoked by the radical Muslims, not by any politician. The politicians are simply trying to make the country safe.
Her father migrated to Australia from Lebanon 64 years ago and Ms Abdel-Rahman said four generations of her family had felt “alienated” during the political debate on how to combat Islamic State.
If four generations of her family are feeling “alienated” then they need to talk to their Muslim mates and get them to quieten down.
No good talking to us. we’re not the problem.
Julian Assange illegally detained, says UN panel. So do all his left wing, anti US and useful idiot supporters.
Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs predicts the French people will reflect on their military involvement in the Middle East following the “deeply traumatic and scarring” attacks on Paris.
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