Terrorism bad for moderate Muslims too, Australian clerics told

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Saturday September 16, 2006

Sydney- Moderate Muslims need to stand up to extremists and declare that terrorism is not sanctioned by the Koran, a government-funded gathering of 100 of Australia's Islamic clerics was told Saturday. "Because it's your faith that's being invoked it is your problem," Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration Andrew Robb told the two-day congress in Sydney. "You cannot wish it away or ignore it just because it has been caused by others."

Addressing the first meeting of its kind in Australia, Robb said: "It's an obscenity for terrorists to invoke Islam as the justification of their evil ways. There is much you can and must do to condemn their words, their actions and their blasphemy."

He also called on the assembled imams to learn English so that they could preach in English.

"For imams to present Islam in a truly Australian context, especially to second and third generations Australian Muslims, it would seem essential that imams be able to speak effective English."

Health Minister Tony Abbott also weighed in with advice for Australia's 300,000 Muslims, saying moderates should go on the offensive against those trying to hijack their religion.

"It's obvious that there is no shortage of Western critics of the West, but ... there sometimes seems to be a serious shortage of Muslim critics of Islam," Abbott said. "It would be easier for Australians to appreciate Islam if more Islamic leaders seemed readier to condemn terrorism rather than explain how the West might in some way have contributed to that, important though that debate may be."

The recommendations from the government come in a week that has seen legislation proposed that would delay from three to four years the time that elapses before immigrants can claim citizenship. The draft laws also impose an English-language test and an examination of the candidate's understanding of liberal democratic values and customs.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur