Anger as Liberals call for Muslim checks to stem terror
Former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison has faced backlash after suggesting accreditation should be required for Muslim preachers after the Bondi attack.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison speaking at a UIA event
Australian Islamic leaders have slammed suggestions by Liberals that the whole Muslim community should take responsibility for terrorist attacks and that its preachers require accreditation.
Speaking at an anti-Semitism conference in Israel, former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison called for sermons to be translated into English and for a crackdown on those with links to foreign Islamist groups.
Liberal senators backed the calls by their former leader, with one going further to suggest Australian Muslims should “take some responsibility” for terrorist attacks on home soil.
Mr Morrison said a multitude of options needed to be considered following the killing of 15 people at Bondi by two Islamic State-inspired gunmen, including accreditation for imams and a register for preachers.
“Some will seek to characterise these remarks as hostile to Australia’s Islamic community and even multiculturalism itself, rolling out the usual accusations of Islamophobia,” he said in the speech.
“To the contrary, I am advocating reforms I believe will help religious leaders in our Islamic community keep the wolves from their flock.
“After December 14, all options to combat antisemitism must be on the table without fear or favour. This includes how Islam is practised and governed in Australia.”
The ideas put forward by the former party leader had merit, Liberal senator and party moderate Andrew Bragg said.
“The Australian Muslim community has to take some responsibility for the behaviours we’ve seen exhibited over the last couple of decades,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, it has been a pattern of behaviour that some of these smaller incidents, and now a significant terrorist incident, have emerged from these communities.”
The Australian National Imams Council said Mr Morrison’s remarks were reckless and deeply ill-informed.
“It is profoundly disappointing to hear such divisive language from a former prime minister who understands, better than most, the importance of unity, social cohesion, and responsible leadership,” it said in a statement.
“To suggest that an entire faith community should be held accountable for the actions of two criminal offenders, both of whom law enforcement agencies have confirmed acted alone, is unacceptable and categorically rejected.”
The council also criticised Senator Bragg’s comments, saying they reinforced divisive rhetoric from political leaders.
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said the comments would lead to further fear and hostility towards the Muslim community.
“Rhetoric like this inevitably creates a divide between so‑called ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’ Muslims, with politicians positioning themselves as arbiters of our faith,” he said.
“When senior political figures single out Islam in this way, they legitimise the very hatred they claim to oppose.”
The comments came as Israel’s President Isaac Herzog confirmed he would travel to Australia for a five-day visit from February 8.
Mr Herzog, invited to Australia at the request of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the aftermath of the terror attack, will meet with federal leaders and Bondi victims.
A father-and-son duo opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration taking place at the famous beach in the December 14 massacre.
The Israeli president’s visit, announced by Mr Albanese following the shooting, prompted legal groups to urge the Australian Federal Police to investigate Mr Herzog for allegedly inciting genocide.
A United Nations Human Rights Council inquiry examining the war in Gaza found that comments made by the president following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel were evidence of genocidal intent.
Mr Herzog has denied the allegations and said the remarks were taken out of context.
Labor Friends of Palestine called for the government to rescind the invitation.
“The visit by Israel’s president makes a mockery of all the fine words about hate speech, social cohesion, unity and healing,” co-convenor Peter Moss said.
But Australian/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said the organisation was disturbed by groups labelling the visit divisive.
“After Bondi, Herzog’s visit is not only appropriate, but an essential part of the healing process,” he said.
By: Andrew Brown/AAP
