Muslim community leader on the damage Pauline Hanson’s comments will create

PAULINE Hanson is creating an “us and them” mentality, says a prominent Muslim community leader. And that world means children are having to ask a heartbreaking question.

Labor MP Jihad Dib says politicians should not use community divide for cheap political points. Picture: Trevor Seymour

ONE Nation leader Pauline Hanson using overseas terror attacks to score “cheap political points” had the potential to cause years of damage in Australia, according to Jihad Dib.

Mr Dib is the NSW Labor MP for the Sydney seat of Lakemba — an electorate that includes more than 150 different cultural groups including a striving Muslim community.

He said comments from Ms Hanson on Q&A on Monday night saying Australians were too terrified to walk the streets or Today Extra co-host Sonia Kruger calling for a ban on Muslim immigration would only create an “us and them” mentality.

Mr Dib admitted he was “drained” after watching Ms Hanson on Q&A.

“It’s the responsibility of leaders to not build walls, but break them down,” Mr Dib told news.com.au.

“In times of trouble you see what type of leaders people are. Do they bring people together or do they divide?”

We have some serious healing ahead of us. Tonight's #qanda has been emotionally draining. We must build a nation where everyone is valued.

— Jihad Dib MP (@jihaddibmp) July 18, 2016

‘WHY DO PEOPLE HATE ME?’

Mr Dib became the first Muslim elected to the lower house of NSW Parliament last year.

He says he still cops “flack” over his first name Jihad — which is an Arabic word meaning to “strive and improve one’s self”.

“It is a name used by people of different faiths because they know its true interpretation. It is this meaning of ‘jihad’ that I want people to know,” he said in his inaugural speech last year.

Mr Dib told news.com.au that the Muslim community was constantly being told to condemn terror attacks overseas and prove they are Australians.

“We condemn these acts, but when we do, we’re not condemning them hard enough,” he said.

“People say to me, ‘You’re not like them’. Who is them? I’m a proud Australian. I represent Australia.

“I’m Australian. My loyalty and commitment to the country shouldn’t come into question. You can be a proud Australian and a practising Muslim.

“Senator-elect Hanson seems to be asking us to choose one or the other.”

He said divisive comments from Ms Hanson and others had an impact on the Muslim community.

“What about the Muslim kid that asks ‘why do people hate me?’. He might play for the local footy team and eat meat pies and do all these things considered as Australian,” he said.

He said the Australian Muslim community was worried it was being looked at with “suspicion or the most negative sense possible”.

“We need to use our common ground. Creating this ‘us and them’ mentality is not good for us as a society.

“We’re better than this as a nation.”

Pauline Hanson on Q&A last night. Picture: ABC

THE ‘GOTCHA’ MOMENT

In his inaugural speech in parliament, Mr Dib said Australia needed to move away from using community division in search for the “gotcha” moment.

His comments last year seemed to almost foretell the rise of Ms Hanson.

“I am greatly concerned that far too much is made of a person’s faith, especially when it may prove to win a few votes here and there,” he said.

“We cannot talk about an inclusive society on one hand and look to divide it with the other. Those who exploit community division in the short-term by seeking to achieve a ‘gotcha’ moment must come to realise their actions have long-term ramifications to maintaining a close-knit society.”

Talking to news.com.au, Mr Dib invited people like Ms Hanson to visit Haldon St in Lakemba and see how many different cultures were living in harmony.

“What we’ve got here in Australia is magnificent. I don’t think we appreciate it enough,” he said.

“But these cheap political points and sound grabs have consequences.

“Free speech also comes with a huge responsibility to use it properly, especially in leadership positions.

Tsabita and Jameela Swandari at Eid celebrations at Lakemba Mosqueearlier this month. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

“We need some healing, but the comments coming from Senator-elect Hanson are anything but healing.”

Similar comments were made by a senior Muslim leader earlier this month to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan said the rise of far-right political groups, such as One Nation and Islamophobia was down to a misunderstanding of the Muslim faith.

The LMA, based at Lakemba Mosque, is one of the largest Muslim groups in Australia.

“The continued rise of Islamophobic discourse in the public in addition to a number of divisive and toxic policy decisions have only exacerbated negative sentiments towards the Australian Muslim community,” Mr Dandan said.

“Their divisiveness will not break or divide us. Their questioning will not deter us. Their bigotry will not install hatred in us. We Australians are better than that.”