Tony Abbott ‘risking regional ties’ over Muslim comments

Tony Abbott’s call for an Islamic reformation risks upsetting Australia’s relations with Muslim countries, ­Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says.

Tony Abbott’s call for a reformation within Islam risks upsetting Australia’s relations with Muslim countries in the region, and requires a “reality check”, ­Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says.

Following the former prime minister’s remarks about the need for an Islamic revolution, Senator Fierravanti-Wells described such calls as “simplistic” and lacking an understanding of “basic facts”.

Writing in The Australian today, the Assistant Multicultural Affairs Minister argues that Islam differs from other religions such as Catholicism in that there is no overarching authority to control interpretations of the Koran.

This means a person with sufficient religious knowledge can act as an imam to lead prayers, and unlike a Catholic priest, there are no ordinations, sacraments or rites that only a religiously qualified person can perform.

“Simplistic calls for ‘revolution’, ‘change’, or ‘reform’ fail to take into account these complexities, especially the lack of hierarchy and authority,” she says.

“A more realist ... approach lies in ensuring that imams preach a more modern and moderate interpretation of the Koran.”

Having returned from representing Australia at the Bali Democracy Forum in Indonesia last week, Senator Fierravanti-Wells also warns that inflammatory comments on Islam have regional repercussions.

“Our nearest neighbour is the largest Muslim country in the world where not only does moderate Islam prevail, but the coexistence of the diversity of faiths and tolerance practised is a good example for others to follow.

“Megaphone politics not only distracts from this, but has implications for our relationships with our nearest neighbours.”

Senator Fierravanti-Wells, a long-time ally of Mr Abbott from the party’s conservative wing, says there is support within Muslim communities for the establishment of a framework to ensure there were more Australian-born and raised imams, whose teachings would reflect Islam in the modern context.

“The majority of moderate ­voices of Muslims in Australia need our support to ensure their positive migration legacy is not tainted by the actions of those bent on mayhem and destruction of our values,” she says.

“In Australia, the interpretation of the Koran should reflect the approach of the overwhelming majority of Australians of Muslim faith who simply want to get on building a good life for themselves and their children.”

The senator, who was asked by Mr Abbott to consult with ethnic communities on proposed changes to citizenship laws, also criticises the response to the Grand Mufti, Ibrahim Mohammed, for his comments about the factors of the Paris attacks, saying he was not representative of Muslim Australia. She welcomes the appointment of Sheik Shady al-Suleiman as the first Australian-born president of the Australian National Imams Council as an important resetting point.

“While some may feel that a public flogging of the Grand Mufti … may have served their own political ends, he does not represent ... all Muslims in Australia.”