Grand Mufti’s comment on Islam hurt Muslim sentiments: ANIC
The Australian National Imams Council released a statement on Wednesday, criticising Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed’s comments on anti-terrorism strategies after the deadly Paris attacks.
Mohamed faced criticisms after calling government’s anti-terrorism strategies ineffective. He also stated to focus more on eradication of Islamophobia and military intervention to deal with IS assaults. “These recent incidents highlight the fact that current strategies to deal with the threat of terrorism are not working,” Mohamed said in a statement.
“It is therefore imperative that all causative factors such as racism, Islamophobia, curtailing freedoms through securitisation, duplicitous foreign policies and military intervention must be comprehensively addressed.”
The comments and suggestions of the Grand Mufti of Australia have been criticised by political leaders and Muslim population. The council said on Wednesday that referring to “causative factors” cannot justify the terror acts that claim so many lives. “There is no justification for the taking of innocent lives,” the council said a statement. “The sanctity of human life is guaranteed in Islam.”
However, even the council did not criticise the Paris attacks in the statement it released. Mohamed and the council have “unequivocally” condemned acts of terrorism, the statement read. It further expressed the sorrow on the loss of innocent lives of people belonging to various religions, including Islam.
Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton criticised Mufti’s comment and told 2GB that even Muslim leaders across the world have negative reactions on whatever had happened in Paris on Friday. Hence it is expected that Australian leaders also view the act of terrorism as a critical issue and condemned the same.
Treasurer Scott Morrison told Fairfax Media’s 3AW on Tuesday that he is aware that the Muslim community was disheartened by Mohamed’s comments on Islam and so were the Australian Muslims. In addition, Muslim associations also rejected the views of Mufti, saying he was not the spokesperson of the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has criticised the Mufti by saying that the police install an electronic device on Mohamed to track his movement after such inflammatory comments on Paris attacks.
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