Islamic leader subjected to smear campaign from ’Zionist propagandists’
The Islamic Council of Victoria say ‘Zionist propagandists’ have subjected Adel Salman to an ‘Islamophobic smear campaign’. Jewish groups say otherwise, as tensions escalate.
The Islamic Council of Victoria says its president Adel Salman has been subjected to an “Islamophobic smear campaign” by “Zionist propagandists” after reports he had publicly declared the October 7 terrorist attack that killed more than 1200 Israelis a “legitimate response to the occupation and siege” just eight days after it occurred.
And the ICV re-posted on its social media account an Instagram post from HumeforPalestine headed “Zionists can go to hell, We will stand with Adel.”
The comments have escalated tensions between Islamic and Jewish groups, with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria suspending relations with the ICV and calling on the Victorian government and other faith leaders to follow suit.
In a weekend statement the ICV declared it and the Muslim community had “total confidence” in Mr Salman, and “stand with him firmly in this Islamophobic smear campaign.”
“Once again, Zionist propagandists are attacking a staunch, pro-justice, anti-oppression activist. This time it is our own president Adel Salman,” the statement signed by ICV vice president Mohamed Mohideen, on behalf of its board, says.
“They will have you believe that the last 75 years of occupation, genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people by the Israeli government never took place.
“They will have you believe that anyone who calls for a Free Palestine is a terrorist sympathiser despite them calling for peace and justice for all.
“These ‘terrorist’ allegations are deeply rooted in Islamophobia, orientalism and colonialism (and) are discriminatory and inflammatory,” the statement says, adding that over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7.
It describes Mr Salman as a “well respected leader and a strong advocate for justice, multiculturalism and inclusion.”
But Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Philip Zajac said the statement and previous remarks by Mr Salman were “malicious and outrageous”, and announced his organisation would suspend relations with the ICV.
Mr Zajac called on the Victorian Government and other faith leaders “to similarly reject working with the ICV while it continues to sow division and hate.”
“In recent months, Jewish leaders have held productive and respectful meetings with many reasonable Islamic leaders, although none who sit on the ICV board,” he said.
The Australian last week exclusively reported that Mr Salman had addressed a Melbourne rally on October 15 last year, eight days after the October 7 attack, where he told the crowd that “everything that has happened is a legitimate response to occupation and siege.”
He also criticised the media for asking whether he would condemn Hamas. “Our message to all of those who ask us to condemn is this: when have you ever condemned Israeli actions and killings?” he said.
The revelations prompted calls from Jewish groups for governments to stop funding the ICV.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin described Mr Salman’s October 15 comments as “utterly repugnant”.
“The true nature of anti-Israel activists is being revealed and any lingering delusion that pro-Palestinian means anything other than pro-Hamas, pro-rape and pro-murder is crumbling,” Mr Ryvchin said.
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