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A fiery critique of Australia’s political and religious sensitivities, defending Scott Morrison’s call to confront Islamic extremism and accusing leaders of avoiding hard truths in the name of social cohesion.

Scott Morrison might not hold a hose… but at least he’s got a brain… and a spine.

In modern Australia, that already puts him in a very exclusive minority.

The former Prime Minister used a speech in Israel overnight to do something now regarded as dangerously subversive: he said something obvious out loud — and meant it.

The former PM used his speech to put Muslim leaders in this country on notice.

He started by pointing out the bleeding obvious.

Speaking about the Bondi terror attack, Morrison said there was an undeniable link between Islam and violent terror attacks.

He said:

“It would be comforting to believe that the perpetrators were simply bad and evil people. But the truth is far more disturbing.”

Now, to be clear, Morrison used qualifying words like “radical” Islam and “extremist” Islam.

He was careful not to tar all followers of Islam with the same brush.

But the point was clear.

Whether violence is inherent in Islam, or a perversion of Islam… there’s no denying there’s a problem being generated inside the Islamic eco-system.

If a religion of peace can be so readily distorted to inspire violence… that’s not a branding problem, that’s a system failure that really should be addressed.

And we in the West have been spectacularly reluctant to admit it. Even as the receipts pile up.

Morrison told those gathered:

Many Islamic states seem to have shown a better understanding of these issues than liberalised Western democracies. Over the past decade, gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, as well as Egypt and Jordan, have taken deliberate action to confront radical Islamic ideology.

He makes a good point.

In Australia, we’ll happily ban plastic straws. But we don’t even want to talk about radical Islam.

Well, after 15 Australians were shot dead by two gunmen, allegedly inspired by what the Prime Minister himself referred to as “a perversion of Islam”… perhaps it’s worth having a grown-up conversation about Islam.

Not because we don’t like Muslims, but because we very much like being about to go to the beach on a Sunday afternoon without playing dodge the jihadist.

Reform From Within — Or Regulation From Without

Morrison said:

After December 14 all options to combat antisemitism must be on the table in Australia without fear or favour. This includes how Islam is practiced and governed in Australia.

To which everyone with a brain and a spine would say… absolutely!

And then he added:

To treat such issues as taboo serves only those who wish to keep these influences opaque and in the dark where our two home grown extreme Islamic terrorists were radicalised.”

Exactly!

Darkness is where extremism thrives. And where Western elites apparently feel most comfortable. More on that in a moment.

Morrison went on to suggest that if Islam keeps being twisted to inspire hate and violence, then perhaps the way Islam is being taught needs to be looked at.

What a scandalous thought.

The governance of Islamic institutions, religious institutions in Australia is inadequate and requires urgent reform.

Islamic leaders have a pastoral duty to protect their communities from radicalisation, and I believe most take this responsibility very seriously.

However stronger institutional frameworks would assist them and would also expose those who do not show that commitment.

He then offered constructive ideas… the sort of radical extremism known as common sense.

Morrison listed a range of reforms that could be considered by the Muslim community.

They could have a register of preachers.

They could create a body to discipline preachers who taught hate or promoted violence.

They could ensure religious instruction happened in English so that everyone knew what was being said – which rather ruins the whole “nothing to see here” strategy.

Morrison said it would be preferable that Islamic organisations implemented such reforms themselves – for the sake of their communities and the rest of the country.

He opined:

These reforms led from within communities rather than enforced by government would preserve freedom of religion, strengthen credible leaders, protect the vulnerable and build trust.

It makes sense.

Like I said, if your religion of peace is being manipulated to inspire atrocities, why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to combat that?

That’s not a rhetorical question. It’s a question that needs to be asked of Australian Islamic leaders.

Because their reflex action was not to agree that we need to do more to keep Australians safe. Instead, they came out firing – not at radical Islamists, but at Scott Morrison.

Denial, Deflection, and Political Spin

They’ve said that Scott Morrison’s speech was reckless and irresponsible.

Rather than acknowledge what we all know to be true, the Australian National Imams Council denied there was any link between terrorism and Islam at all. A claim so detached from reality, it should qualify for government arts funding.

They even demanded that we stop using terms like “radical Islam” and “extremist Islam”.

In a statement, they said:

“Associating terrorism with Islam is wrong, rejected, and has no factual or moral basis. We cannot and must not blame entire communities for the actions of a few criminal individuals.”

Well, the imams’ statement is wrong, rejected and has no factual or moral basis.

There is clearly an association between terrorism and Islam. Ask ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaida, Hezbollah, the Taliban, Hamas, Boko Haram, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, the Morroccan Islamic Combat Group, Jemaah Islamiyah.

There’s no association between terrorism and Islam? Really?

Run that by Osama bin Laden, or Yaser Arafat, or Mohammad Atta, or Ah-boo Bak-er al-Bag-dadi.

We can keep going if the Imams Council would like a longer reading list.

As for the Imam’s claim that Scott Morrison was blaming an entire community for the actions of a few… that’s a lie, and they know it.

He did no such thing.

Scott Morrison pointed out that these imams may not be the cause of radical Islamic terrorism, but they could certainly be part of the solution.

What hope, however, when this nation’s imams flat out deny any link between Islam and terrorism?

And worse, attack anyone who says anything to the contrary.

In so doing, they make their own case for government regulation.

If Australia’s top Islamic leaders won’t so much as even admit there’s an issue… then they have become the issue.

Scott Morrison was awake to them because, of course, it’s all so predictable.

He finished his speech with this prediction:

Some will seek to characterise my remarks as hostile to Australia’s Islamic community and even multiculturalism itself. Throw out the usual accusations of Islamophobia. To the contrary, I am advocating reforms that I believe will help religious leaders in our Islamic community keep the wolves from their flock.

If Islamic leaders have no interest in addressing radical Islam, then we are left to rely on our government.

There’s a depressing thought.

When “Social Cohesion” Means Silence

Within hours of Scott Morrison’s speech making the news, senior government minister Pat Conroy was echoing Australian National Imams Council talking points.

Or were the imams echoing Labor talking points? It’s hard to know these days.

Conroy told Sky News:

“For the Liberals to hold almost one million Australians who are of Muslim faith responsible for the acts of two individuals who followed a vial perversion, extreme perversion of Islam is another example of them trying to divide Australians.”

I’ll be kind and call Pat Conroy disingenuous rather than a liar.

Scott Morrison was not speaking on behalf of the Liberals – would that he was. He was speaking in his own private capacity.

Scott Morrison was not blaming a million Australian Muslims for the acts of two individuals. He was saying we need to help a million Muslims not have their religion corrupted by extremists.

And Scott Morrison was not trying to divide Australians. He is trying to protect Australians.

He’s not promoting division. He’s promoting civilisation.

Here’s what I found interesting.

Without promoting, Pat Conroy then repeated his rubbish answer all over again… just to make sure everyone heard it.

It was clearly a rehearsed line that he was determined to get out:

“Why the Liberals want to hold almost one million Australians responsible for the acts of two individuals at Bondi is beyond me. It’s another example of them trying to divide Australians.”

Conroy falsely accuses Morrison of holding a million Muslims responsible for the acts of two individuals at Bondi while forgetting that just last week, his government passed legislation holding a million gun owners responsible for the actions of those same two individuals.

The only honest thing Pat Conroy said in that clip was – and I quote – “it’s beyond me”.

Yes, Mr Conroy, it does seem to be quite beyond you.

Then game this gem:

It’s clear that the two individuals who have been alleged to have committed the act in Bondi followed an extreme perversion of Islam – and we’ve called that out from the Prime Minister down – but to tar an entire religion I just think is unacceptable. It’s not based in fact. And it’s undermines social cohesion.

So Conroy agrees there is a connection between Islam and terrorism – he concedes the Bondi attack was linked to a perversion of Islam – but then insists that we mustn’t talk about it because that risks undermining social cohesion.

If social cohesion is so flimsy, so fragile, so delicate … that we can’t even talk about Islam without accusations of Islamophobia… then I don’t think much of your social cohesion.

This is a government pretending at social cohesion while practising soft blasphemy laws.

Conroy helpfully noted:

Every Australian should have the right to follow their religion in peace in this country as long as they follow all the laws of the land.

Yes, they should, Mr Conroy. Yes, they should.

Every Australian should also have the right not to be treated like an idiot.

Every Australian should have the right to critique religion – including Islam – without being caricatured or labelled divisive.

And every Australian should have the right to go to Bondi Beach confident that they’ll make it home.

Conroy then had the audacity to say this:

“We’ve passed even stronger hate laws. We would have passed vilification laws if we’d had the support of the Coalition. So for Liberal Party politicians, both former and current, to weigh in is just incredibly hypocritical and troubling.”

He’s kidding, isn’t he?

The first thing the Albanese government did after passing stronger hate laws was to block a Jew from coming to Australia.

And why?

Because he had made comments critical… of Islam.

Scott Morrison should count himself fortunate to have an Australian passport.

Otherwise, after his comments last night, he might not have been allowed home.

Welcome to the late stages of Western civilisation

And I’m not joking about that.

Have a listen to Treasurer Jim Chalmers when asked about Scott Morrison’s speech.

Now remember… we’ve had 15 Australians murdered in an alleged Islamist attack.

Scott Morrison suggests we might want to have a conversation about Islam.

And this is the Treasurer’s response:

Typically, Scott Morrison has a very different objective. He’s a pretty divisive figure.

Scott Morrison’s divisive?! For daring to raise the subject of Islam?

I don’t care if Scott Morrison is divisive or not.

Is he right? That’s the question.

But Chalmers won’t dare go near that question … because the only thing that scares our leaders more than division, is truth.

As I said, welcome to the late stages of Western civilisation.

___

Republished with thanks to The James Macpherson Report.

Appeal for the Bondi Terrorist Attack Victims

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