Arabic-speaking community leaders hit airwaves to sing national anthem

On one of Sydney’s main Arabic radio ­stations, the strains of Arabic music gave way to a different sound.

Antoine Lattouf, left, Francois Gitani, Alaa Alawadi, Joumana Gebar, Johnny Merheb, Raymond Bouassi and Bedro Hajje singing the Australian national anthem on Sydney’s 2000 FM. Photographer: Adam Yip

Just after 10am on one of Sydney’s main Arabic radio ­stations yesterday, the strains of Arabic music gave way to a different sound — the Australian national anthem.

A group of leaders from the ­Arabic-speaking community had gathered to launch a campaign to push back against extremist elements in the Muslim community.

After hardline Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir on Sunday des­cribed the singing of the national anthem as “forced assimilation”, the group decided to sing the ­anthem both at the beginning and the end of their program. During the show, the group confronted groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir.

“If you don’t like it here, please, please go,” Jumana Gebar, a regular host on Sydney-based 2000 FM, told listeners. “We don’t need terror here. Australia is a beautiful country, let’s keep it like that.”

The group feels it is time for moderates in their community to take on groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir so the wider community does not think such groups speak for Arab and Islamic Australians.

The leaders of the pushback yesterday used two hours on the air to appeal directly to the Arabic-speaking community.

Ms Gebar’s family fled Lebanon for Kuwait, only to have Saddam Hussein invade that country in 1990. Her family then moved to Australia where, she says, she hopes overseas conflicts are not imported.

“I salute Australia,” she said. “Australia is our country. I don’t want what happens overseas to happen here. Why do they come here and try to break the country?

“Australia has opened the door for us, has given us love for us and our kids.”

During the show, the group ­implored Australia’s Muslim and Arab communities to leave foreign conflicts behind.

Another of the group, businessman Johnny Merheb of the United Australian Lebanese Movement, told listeners: “We need to preserve the Australian way of life and fight whoever tries to impose their way of life on us.

“We all should keep any political differences we have in the ­Middle East over there and work together for the good of the community in Australia.”

The group stood and sang the national anthem at the show’s start, some placing their hands across their chests.

Alaa Alawadi told listeners: “I’m scared that terror will come to our doorstep. I’m an Australian-Iraqi and I don’t want this here.

“Australia has taken care of us more than our own countries did.”

Another of the leaders, Raymond Bouassi, said he came to Australia from Lebanon 17 years ago. “I ran away from turmoil and here I became a citizen, which means I have equal rights with everyone,” he said. “In Australia I also have equal opportunity and I can be who I want to be.”

Bedro Hajje added: “I also chose to come here from Lebanon. I wanted to be part of this (broadcast) today because I have a concern that we are not doing enough for our country, Australia.”

Various community leaders joined the broadcast by phone.

“What Hizb ut-Tahrir said about the national anthem is tot­ally unacceptable,” said Said Ala­m­eddine, the president of the Australian-Lebanese Friendship Association.

“If these guys went to Saudi Arabia or Iran and said they’re not happy about the national anthem, they’d probably be jailed.

“We are under Australian law, we drink Australian water, we breathe Australian air and therefore we are Australian.”

Referring to last month’s killing of police worker Curtis Cheng by a 15-year-old, Mr Alameddine said the Muslim community had to condemn such crimes immediately and without qualification.

“We are against all killings, whether here or by Australians who go fighting overseas,” he said.