Leaders should encourage an Islamic reformation

Australians must face the facts on Islamism.

While most Australians have no delusions that Muslim terrorists are a tiny minority and have no desire to demonise Muslims, there are several facts that should be understood.

ASIO estimates there are up to 400 terrorists and supporters in Australia and surveys throughout the Muslim world show that between 10 and 15 per cent support or sympathise with terrorism in general and Islamic State in particular.

The Pew Research Centre also revealed strong misogynistic and homophobic attitudes — 90 per cent think a woman must obey her husband and a similar percentage are negative about gays. Many Islamic countries are prone to religious bigotry, supporting or accepting the persecution of other religions.

These realities pose serious questions. Given the obvious disconnection with our values, can we control Islamic immigration without alienating further the substantial numbers already here? Can we screen out extremists? How can deradicalisation programs be made more effective? Can moderate Islamic leaders be mobilised to wage a campaign against these regressive elements, or even be encouraged to start a breakaway movement in an Islamic reformation?

Let’s hope these matters are being canvassed by our government as they are not really amenable to productive debate in wider public arenas.

Tom Drake-Brockman, Berrilee, NSW

Sheik Mohammed Omran’s recent slur on the Prime Minister, his previous controversial comments regarding so-called “kaffirs” and his apparent friendship with the former leader of al-Qa’ida, would give anyone the chills. He has certainly taken free speech to the nth degree in calling Morrison “this bloody Prime Minister” and has done himself no favours within the community.

While there are many peace-loving Muslim believers, and while there are leaders such as Omran who flout the nature of courteous conversation, it is appropriate for the PM to have challenged Muslim leaders to “call out” radical Islam.

The imams should be as strident in their everyday mosque homilies and public conversations as they are when calling their true believers to prayer, that is if they wish to have a peaceful life here in their country of choice.

Claire Jolliffe, Buderim, Qld

Muslim leaders have given their answer to Scott Morrison over his call for them to do more to combat Islamist terror. As usual, their response is perpetrators acted contrary to their faith and had mental problems. With more than 250 going to fight with Islamic State and about 60 Muslims in Australia convicted of terror offences, it seems mental problems are more widespread than we thought.

Ray Warren, Mandurah, WA

The Mocker tells it like it is (“Look at the obvious, Anne Aly”, online, 15/11), but with one caveat — he makes the mistake we have all been making of using reason to combat unreason.

It is time we realised that radical Islam declared war on the West decades ago. Only now do we begin to understand.

In responding, whether to the likes of Mohammed Omran or Labor MP Anne Aly, the presentation of facts, the use of reason and logic are useless. Their methods may be those of the bad cop or the good cop, the intent is the same — our conversion to Islam. It might be through submission through terrorism or, more subtly, by gaining weight of numbers in parliament; the two approaches converge on one goal — Islamic domination.

Philip Temple, Larrakeyah, NT

Rod Shaw’s letter (15/11) employs a tactic commonly used by critics of Islam. He misquotes the Koran as saying “terrorise and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Koran”. This ignores the fact that Muslims were persecuted for 13 years in Mecca for claiming that God is one. They were driven out of their homes and not left alone, even in Medina.

The permission given in the Koran to fight in self-defence was granted to defend Muslims from persecution, and to defend Christians, Jews and people of all faiths from acts of terror.

But according to critics of Islam, while the actions of a terrorist are associated with Islam, my message of love and peace is ignored, and misquoted verses are used to throw Islam’s name in the mud.

Sophia Ahmad, Berwick, Vic