AUSTRALIAN GOVT. TO DISCUSS ANTI-terrorism POLICIES

[Shazzam]

At a press conference today (5th August, 2005) Prime Minister John Howard announced that he will set up a forum to include all State Government officials and all religious groups in Australia to discuss our anti-terrorism policies and any changes that need to be made.

This decision has come since his return to Australia from London where he visited Prime Minister Blair in the middle of the attacks in London. He was apparently very impressed how the Government handled the situation in London.

I think it is great that he is going to involve all religious groups in these discussions to let every one know that they are part of the process.

[Danyet]

[
I think it is great that he is going to involve all religious groups in these discussions to let every one know that they are part of the process.[/b]

Well big whoopidy do!! Just another brown nosing politicion playing the PC card. He doesn't need to talk to all religions at all. How many Bhuddists are suicide bombers? Is there a group called "The Prespyterian Pistol Packing Partisans" or the "Methodists for Mindless Mayhem?

He ought to be talking to Law Enforcement agencies

[Shazzam]

[
I think it is great that he is going to involve all religious groups in these discussions to let every one know that they are part of the process.[/b]

Well big whoopidy do!! Just another brown nosing politicion playing the PC card. He doesn't need to talk to all religions at all. How many Bhuddists are suicide bombers? Is there a group called "The Prespyterian Pistol Packing Partisans" or the "Methodists for Mindless Mayhem?

He ought to be talking to Law Enforcement agencies

You do know that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit don't you?

From my knowledge of this current event; he has already lobbied the law enforcement; we have well trained troops etc. I think it is a diplomatic effort. We live in a multi-cultural environment; Australia is well known for being a mixing pot. We have to accept other peoples religions and respect them as part of the Australian culture, just as we expect the same from them. To make them part of the process in decision making in these instances lets them know that this is their Country too. That we all share a common goal!

[Danyet]

To make them part of the process in decision making in these instances

What process? What does religion have to do with fighting crime? What, the PM is going to have special talks with priests in order to fight terrorism? He is going to keep these priests informed of all police proceedings so that they can be on the "inside"? Maybe he should have meetings with RSL or the Wiccans or the Manly Rugby League afterall they are all Australians too!
How sappy!

[Shazzam]

To make them part of the process in decision making in these instances

What process? What does religion have to do with fighting crime? What, the PM is going to have special talks with priests in order to fight terrorism? He is going to keep these priests informed of all police proceedings so that they can be on the "inside"? Maybe he should have meetings with RSL or the Wiccans or the Manly Rugby League afterall they are all Australians too!
How sappy!

Hey! I don't have all the information and I'm sure that he isn't stupid enough to include them with all the in's and out's of his anti-terrorism policies. You have to keep some sort of common sense here!

What I meant was he is going to include them in discussion regarding alienation (i.e. if they feel that immigration policies etc are affecting Muselims for example). Because of the recent acts of terrorism the Muselim community; especially in Sydney have been targeted. When in fact the majority are peace loving people (racism applies).

The rest of the details haven't been made public yet. So I can't say with any authority exactly what extent these discussion will take.

[Danyet]

"For decades the Australian Muslim community, Australian women in particular, and the Australian society at large have suffered from the misinterpretation of certain verses of the Koran and the misapplication of certain aspects of sharia law."
This included some Islamic clerics saying women could be beaten by their husbands and recommending they should not participate in higher education. Scrutinising local imams has support in Government ranks, although a senior source last night said it would have to be a system of self-regulation, as it would be inappropriate, as well as radical, for government to have final approval to license religious teachers of any faith.

Muslim leaders will today voice their support for having Australian imams vetted and accredited and for tighter restrictions on visiting clerics, to weed out those preaching dangerous and offensive values.
. The president of the Iraqi Islamic Council of Australia, Mohammed Taha al Salami, called for a more aggressive approach to foreign Islamic speakers visiting Australia."If they incite hatred they should be stopped, as simple as that," said Dr al Salami, who will participate today. "The government and their agencies must scrutinise them. This meeting should come up with a resolution regarding the foreign imams who have extreme views."
Britain has expelled several radical clerics, or prevented them from returning to its shores, since the London bombings

From The Sydney Mornig Herald

[Shazzam]

"For decades the Australian Muslim community, Australian women in particular, and the Australian society at large have suffered from the misinterpretation of certain verses of the Koran and the misapplication of certain aspects of sharia law."
This included some Islamic clerics saying women could be beaten by their husbands and recommending they should not participate in higher education. Scrutinising local imams has support in Government ranks, although a senior source last night said it would have to be a system of self-regulation, as it would be inappropriate, as well as radical, for government to have final approval to license religious teachers of any faith.

Muslim leaders will today voice their support for having Australian imams vetted and accredited and for tighter restrictions on visiting clerics, to weed out those preaching dangerous and offensive values.
. The president of the Iraqi Islamic Council of Australia, Mohammed Taha al Salami, called for a more aggressive approach to foreign Islamic speakers visiting Australia."If they incite hatred they should be stopped, as simple as that," said Dr al Salami, who will participate today. "The government and their agencies must scrutinise them. This meeting should come up with a resolution regarding the foreign imams who have extreme views."
Britain has expelled several radical clerics, or prevented them from returning to its shores, since the London bombings

From The Sydney Mornig Herald

I hadn't seen that article. What do you think though that pretty much covers what is going on?

There has been quite a bit of media coverage on the issue this week; before the meetings as John Howard has excluded quite a few fanctions of the Muslim community (for various reasons). Which I think is fair enough really. He doesn't want to give the radicals the opportunity to undermine the process.

[Danyet]

As it turns out, the politicians are doing better than I originally thought they would. I think that it is fair.

In the original Herald article there was much more than I quoted. I would have given the link but it was really HUGE and extended the forum making it hard to scroll.

[Shazzam]

As it turns out, the politicians are doing better than I originally thought they would. I think that it is fair.

In the original Herald article there was much more than I quoted. I would have given the link but it was really HUGE and extended the forum making it hard to scroll.

I'm not generally a supporter of John Howard but I must admit the way he has handled this summit is really impressive .

The summit happened today but I haven't got any details yet.

I will post more on it when I get updates from the local news media.

It all sounds quite positive at this point though.

[Danyet]

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0805/p ... 08_30.php3
Costello goes further, observing that Australia "is founded on a democracy. According to our Constitution, we have a secular state. Our laws are made by the Australian Parliament. If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Shari'a law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you." Islamists with dual citizenship, he suggests, could be asked "to exercise that other citizenship," i.e., leave Australia.
Likewise, Brendan Nelson, Australia's education minister, also on Aug. 24 urged immigrants to "commit to the Australian constitution, Australian rule of law." If not, "they can basically clear off." Geert Wilders, head of his own small party in the Dutch parliament, similarly called for the expulsion of non-citizen immigrants who refuse to integrate.
But it was the British shadow defence minister, Gerald Howarth, who went the furthest, suggesting in early August that all British Islamists must go. "If they don't like our way of life, there is a simple remedy: go to another country, get out." He directed this principle even to Islamists born in Britain (such as three of the four London bombers): "If you don't give allegiance to this country, then leave."