From Australian Muslims

This is a joint media release dated Wednesday, November 6, 2002

(Posted on this site December 2002.)


Together, we send this message to the extremists of the world who come from all backgrounds, religions and ideologies. We speak out with two aims —first: in the hope that these extremists will re-consider their actions, and second: to make our stance clear to the world.

We have felt the hurts of your ways and we want you to understand that what you have done was never in our name, or the name of any religion or God. Furthermore, never in our name or in the name of any religion or God, can you ever be aggressive, unjust or hurt innocent people.

You have killed many precious people from all backgrounds and religions and you have hurt many more. There is no political, religious, racial, ethnic or ideological position that can justify victimizing the innocent and the defenseless. Tragically, the very communities you claim to represent have also been further victimized because of backlashes by those that have been hurt and angered as a result of your aggressive and criminal actions.

Of course, all people deserve the rights to self-defence, justice, security and peace, including you. But self-defence does not justify aggression and the random killing of unarmed and innocent people whom you cannot identify and are not fighting you. No one should have to live in fear.

We witness and confirm that your cause is never enhanced by aggression, and violence against innocent people. These methods are against every religious teaching in spite of what you may believe. These methods will only promote repulsion towards you and your cause and encourage good people to gather against you.

We appeal to the common sense and hearts of all the leaders of the world and ask that they do all that is in their power to ensure that justice and peace prevail and that injustice, oppression and human rights abuses are eradicated.

Good people have been criticized for not being vocal enough against the aggression and violence. There are no bystanders. Silence is perceived as a form of consent. So let those people who seek peace and justice further amplify the message and express it repeatedly in different ways and languages. Perhaps then others will understand and bear witness to our search for peace on earth.

Other Relevant Information:

This statement is released during the first day of Ramadan, on the 6th day of November 2002. And it is released at a time when we are not compelled to make a statement but want to do so together for all the best reasons and with the best of hopes.

We pray that it is an effort that will promote a movement towards peace and harmony starting in Australia. We are not powerless to change the world for the better. Everyone counts.

The statement was originally drafted in Victoria where it was approved and adopted the by the Victorian Board of Imams and the Islamic Council of Victoria. Additionally it has now been also fully supported and endorsed by an increasing number of organizations including:

  • The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) - National Peak Body

  • Islamic Council of Northern Territory

  • Islamic Council of Queensland

  • Islamic Council of Western Australia

  • The Supreme Islamic Council of NSW

  • The Islamic Council of NSW

  • Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali —NSW

Other Islamic Councils, organizations and leaders are also being informed and it is expected that they will also endorse and support the statement fully in the next few days.

The statement reflects mainstream Islamic teachings in every way and it is based on The Quran. There is nothing in it that is open to challenge. This is what Islam clearly teaches and what the overwhelming majority of Muslims believe. So let there be no further confusion about our united stance.

It is now hoped that the wider community including other religious and non-religious organizations, as well as community leaders and members of the general public, will endorse and support this statement in regard to extremists found in every community, including their own, as we all work for peace and world harmony.

We encourage each organization to add its own community or organization's name to the statement and distribute it to their members and through their networks, after it is adopted by them.

We pray to God to bring peace to the world through this and other similar efforts. Ameen.

Media Contacts For This Release:

Victoria

Yasser Soliman —Islamic Council of Victoria, Mobile 0412 305 193, Office (03) 9328 2067
Bilal Cleland —Islamic Council of Victoria, Mobile 0421 497 511, Office (03) 9328 2067
Sheikh Fehmi —Victorian Board of Imams, Mobile 0419 156 006

National

Dr Ameer Ali —AFIC, Telephone (08) 9380-3967

Queensland

Sultan Deen —Islamic Council of Queensland, Mobile 0418 722 353

New South Wales

Jaber El-gafi —Supreme Islamic Council of NSW, Mobile 0409 877 210
Ali Roude —Islamic Council of NSW, Mobile 0414 244 442
Keysar Trad —For Sh. Taj Aldin Alhilali —NSW, Mobile 0410 33 69 22
Kuranda S. Seyit —AFIC, NSW, Mobile 0412 318 045

Northern Territory

Dr Waqar Ahmed —Islamic Council of NT, Mobile 0438 854 243

Page content last modified: 3 Jul 2003