Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed’s statement on Paris attack slammed

UPDATE: GOVERNMENT ministers have called on the Grand Mufti to “clarify” his comments about the Paris attacks in which he insinuated Islamophobia was a cause.

Pic of Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed and other community leaders will be conducting a media conference in relation to the parramatta shooting,.

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GOVERNMENT ministers have called on the Grand Mufti of Australia to “clarify” his comments about the Paris attacks, as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says there could be new hope in the fight against ISIS.

Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed has been slammed for issuing a statement on the Paris atrocities in which he insinuated ­Islamophobia was a cause of the massacre.

His statement said “causative factors” of the terror attacks were racism and Islamophobia, and that they needed to be addressed.

“These recent incidents highlight the fact that current strategies to deal with the threat of terrorism are not working,” Dr Mohammed said.

“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.”

He condemned the Paris attacks, which killed at least 132 people and injured more than 350, and offered condolences to victims’ friends and families.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said today that Dr Mohammed should explain his comments without delay.

“I think the opportunity is there today for the Grand Mufti to come out and clarify his comments and make it very clear that he condemns these acts of terrorism, these murderous acts, without reservation as other leaders have done,” he told Macquarie radio.

“And I think the opportunity is there for him to do it sooner rather than later.

“It should be done today so that people can’t be left in two minds about how strongly he feels and it should be as strong as the rest of us.”

Mr Dutton called on everyone in a position of leadership to “make it clear” they condemned ISIS to “hopefully deter” like-minded people from carrying out attacks.

“There is no qualification to it. There is no reason. There is no justification,” he said.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said his Muslim friends were “disappointed” in the Grand Mufti’s comments.

“I would encourage him I think to come out and clarify what his statement said. I was very disappointed for Australian Muslims yesterday, I thought Australian Muslims were let down by the Mufti yesterday,” he told 3AW today.

“I think we’ve got into a much more, I think, mature discussion about these very complicated issues and I think Australian Muslims would have been disappointed in those comments – certainly those who I have close relationships with were – and I really urge him to listen to his own community on this and to reflect their views.”

Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed has come under fire for his comments on the Paris attacks.

Ted Lapkin, director of public affairs at the Zionist Federation of Australia, said the Grand Mufti’s comments were a “disgrace”.

“The Mufti disgracefully attempts to invert culpability for last weekend’s terrorist atrocity with his statement that “duplicitous foreign policies and military intervention” are “causative factors” in this attack,” Mr Lapkin said.

“The premeditated murder of innocents is an irreducible evil that must never be contextualised, rationalised or justified — full stop.

“The objectives of Australia’s Middle East policy are focused on protecting innocents and pursuing tyrants.”

Yesterday, Mr Morrison would not be drawn on whether the Grand Mufti was out of touch, but said other Muslims had already distanced themselves from his comments.

“I appreciate them calling in and doing that because I think that shows where those of Islamic faith in Australia really are at,’’ Mr Morrison told 2GB.

“That statement I think sets out where the Grand Mufti is.

“What I am heartened by is that there are many other Muslims in Australia today who have said exactly what we would hope they would say and they have done it without any encouragement.”

Senator Cory Bernardi also said the Grand Mufti’s comments on the Paris terror attacks were a “disgrace”.

“The West is not to blame,” he said.

“The Grand Mufti needs to join with all Australians in countering extremism and not apologising for it.”

Dr Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism expert at Deakin University, said: “Part of the problem (of the Grand Mufti’s statement) is the language which is used.

“With leadership in the Muslim community ... language can be a problem. They can struggle to communicate what they really think.”

Meanwhile Ms Bishop says she hopes the United States and Russia will band together to form a single coalition against Islamic State.

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down for crucial talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Turkey, just days after the brutal terrorist attack on Paris that claimed 132 lives.

Speaking from Manila ahead of the APEC summit today, Ms Bishop said it was hoped a single coalition would be formed.

“We have about 780 defence personnel deployed to the Middle East,” Ms Bishop told Channel Nine.”

“At least 300 of them are in Iraq training the Iraqi security forces and the balance are involved in air strikes.

“We have six of our FA-18 Hornets there plus backup planes, so we’re already making a significant contribution, I believe, second largest to the United States.

“But, of course, given that the US and Russia hopefully are forming a single collision, we’ll continue to work closely with them to ensure that Australia continues to play its part in seeking to disrupt and destroy Daesh, this horrific terrorist organisation”.

Ms Bishop said Australia would consider any other proposal put to them by the United States, including putting troops on the ground.

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