Sheik disingenuous on attack

Blaming police is a cop out

Emir Mohammed Omran is deliberately disingenuous (“Sheik tells ‘bloody PM’: ‘blame police ... not us’,” 13/11). Australians must understand the reality of Islam: “Radicalisation” is not some voodoo spell cast on unsuspecting innocents. It occurs when individual Muslims take seriously their holy texts calling them to action to spread the rule of Allah. Violence, murder and enslavement are specifically authorised. The clear call is to convert the world to Islam, forcing those who resist into submission.

Geoffrey Luck, Killara, NSW

Enough is enough. The attitude of Sheik Mohammed Omran from the Hume Islamic Youth Centre is a cop out. To suggest it was the government’s fault for not preventing Hassan Khalif Shire Ali from his deadly mission is rubbish. If the police arrested or detained everyone Islamist on their watch list just because they might do a “Hassan” imagine the outcry from Sheik Omran and others of his ilk.

John Walker, Sapphire Beach, NSW

Sheik Mohammed Omran cynically ignores the reality that it takes a village or culture to make a terrorist; he should best focus on being part of the solution by weeding out extremists.

Steve Ngeow, Chatswood, NSW

I disagree with Sheik Mohammed Omran’s inference that there are just as many terrorists in other religions. Granted, the vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists. But that is not what is at stake here. The number of Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or agnostic terrorists per head of population is significantly lower than Muslim terrorists. Go sort out the “beam” in the eye of your religion.

N. J. Ford, Kambah, ACT

As a Lebanese-born Australian who emigrated as a toddler in the 1960s I’d like to offer some advice to the Government. When we came to Australia we had to be sponsored and guarantees of good character were given by my father’s two brothers, uncle and his cousin (a World War II veteran of the Air Force), who were all citizens of Australia.

We grew up loving this, the best country in the world. We stood to attention and sang the national anthem and learned what it was to be Australian. Did we experience racism and intolerance? Of course, and so what? It built my character, and I always had a quirky comeback .

It is infuriating to hear some of these social justice puppets mimicking each other with comfort words like “tolerance” and “attacks on anyone who thinks differently” after a terrorist act. News flash: words don’t kill and maim; bombs, guns, knives and vehicles do and a certain religion is overrepresented in these acts.

K. Andary, Highbury, SA

No religion is a religion of violence. As an Ahmadi Muslim girl, I was extremely shocked by the attack that happened on Bourke Street. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I may only be 13 years of age but even I know that taking the life of an innocent human being is wrong. Islam spreads the word of peace and compassion. This is made clear in the Holy Quran, “Whosoever killed a person — it shall be as if he killed all mankind.” (Al Maidah, Chapter 5: Verse 33)”

Sophia, Berwick, Vic

As a Muslim, I condemn the comments by the Sheik. As Muslims we are taught to love the country in which we live. The very least a Muslim can do is to alert authorities regarding any suspicious individual within their ranks.

Shaheena Rana, Walkerville, SA

I thought the Christian doctrine preached forgiveness. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Some self-professed Christians in the community seem to have forgotten this message. Of course mental illness must be considered in the case of the incident in Bourke Street. No one in their right mind would behave that way, irrespective of religious beliefs.

D. Barrington, Torrenssville, SA

Am I the only reader troubled by the chorus of approval for Scott Morrison’s condemnation of radical Islam? Excoriating “radical” Islam for acts of terrorism is one small step from blaming our entire Muslim community for these acts. Lest we forget, the anniversary of the Armistice we have just been commemorating coincided with the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht.

John Dorman, Toowoomba, Qld