Anne Aly brands Scott Morrison’s Islam comments ‘abhorrent’

Scott Morrison’s proposed regulation of Islam in Australia, and his claim that Australian Muslims should take accountability for the actions of radicalised terrorists, have been rebuked by Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly.

This week, Mr Morrison delivered a speech in Israel demanding Australia’s Muslim leaders implement a national register, and deliver all sermons in English, to empower authorities to crack down on hate preachers in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

“Their radicalisation did not take place in a madrasa (school) in southeast Asia or an Iranian hawza (spiritual school) but in the suburbs of southwest Sydney,” he said, referring to the Bondi gunmen, who were allegedly inspired by ISIS.

The next day, his plan was endorsed by Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg, who told the ABC: “ … the Australian Muslim community has to take some responsibility for the behaviours we’ve seen exhibited over the last couple of decades.”

But on Thursday, Ms Aly – a Muslim MP and counter-terrorism expert – condemned the rhetoric for vilifying the Muslim community.

“I think it’s incredibly irresponsible, and I also think it’s incredibly disappointing, because it draws on historical stereotypes and a historical trope that continually puts the blame and responsibility and the burden on Muslim communities whenever there is any form of a terrorist attack,” she told the ABC.

Ms Aly also reiterated the frustration of Muslims being subject to the same, damaging stereotypes despite repeated condemnation of terrorism.

“The Muslim community leadership was among the first to go out, come out and condemn the acts of the terrorists in Bondi last year,” she said.

“They were among the first to wrap their arms around the Jewish community.

“And yet this consistent seeking to blame an entire faith community for the actions of two radicalised individuals, to take advantage of something like the Bondi attacks to sow seeds of discourse is absolutely abhorrent and should be rejected.”

Islamic groups, including a peak religious authority, have repeatedly warned that divisive rhetoric that unfairly scrutinises Australian Muslims – including linking them to the Bondi terror attack – has directly caused escalations in violent, hateful incidents towards the Muslim community since December 14.

Both Mr Morrison and Senator Bragg’s comments were condemned by the Australian National Imams Council for promoting “divisive and dangerous” rhetoric.