Taliban address to Australian Muslims cancelled after NSW government intervention

The Islamic council has canned plans to host an online forum with members of the Taliban as guest speakers after the NSW government intervened.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils will not proceed with a planned online forum featuring two members of the Taliban regime after a backlash from the Australian Muslim community and the NSW government.

Two members of the hard line regime in Afghanistan were on Saturday set to meet a number of “distinguished” local Muslims from the group who wanted assurances of human rights of minorities in Afghanistan.

But NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Multiculturalism Minister Natalie Ward condemned the event and said they had asked AFIC to cancel it.

“We join Muslim community leaders in NSW, and especially Afghan community leaders, in condemning events of this kind,” said a joint statement from Mr Perrottet and Ms Ward.

“We asked AFIC to cancel this event and they have agreed to do so. The NSW community is currently opening its arms to refugees and Australian repatriates from Afghanistan,” it said.

The invitees included longtime Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, who has not ruled out a return to public executions under Afghanistan’s new leadership, and senior Taliban figure Sayed Abdul Basir Sabiri.

AFIC confirmed the event had been cancelled on Thursday.

“In view of the developments, I have taken the executive decision to cancel the event,” said its president, Rateb Jneid.

“The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, in response to community concerns about ­developments in Afghanistan, ­organised a panel of disting­uished individuals to interview representatives of the regime in Afghanistan in the hope of obtaining assurances for the human rights of minorities, the rights of women to employment and education and to dissuade Australians from travelling to the region with any wrongful intent.

“This event was not convened to legitimise any group or to ­offend any group – it was purely to obtain the afore stated ­assurances.”

Mr Perrottet and Ms Ward said they were “relieved for all members of our community that this event has been cancelled, and look forward to a continued … relationship with AFIC”.