A good friend of mine who knows more about intelligence operations than most people in Australia (and globally for that matter), sent me a note two days ago, which simply read, "Surprisingly, the Muslim community has also pledged to work and cooperate with the MT government on national security & social unrest matters. Excellent job."
Tony Abbott and his relevant Ministers did a superb job reducing our security risks due to the influx of boat people. Those with first hand knowledge understood very clearly the profiles of many whom flooded in under Labor, and the ongoing risks uncontrolled boats posed. Add to this, the profile of the thousands amassing on Indonesian shores waiting to infiltrate Australia and the alarm bells were ringing loud and clear. Thank heavens the government changed when it did. And we saw good policy, exceedingly well executed and boats stopped. Big tick.
Once the flood was stopped the focus on our possible domestic risks gained in importance. Not to say they weren't important before. Whilst many arm chair experts (mostly far-right conservatives) mock anyone who raises concerns about lone-wolves, as we saw yesterday in Parramatta, that they can be a significant threat. This is where the co-operation of the Muslim community comes into play in a big way.
It would be fair to say, that some of the language used over the past year has driven a wedge more so than engendering close cooperation. If people won't cooperate with you then you can't expect the best outcome.
As we discovered this morning, the perpetrator of yesterday's attack in Parramatta, was a 15-year old boy (who was reportedly radicalised via the Internet). How this child got hold of a gun is yet to be determined. Same applies to what the motivation was for a 15-year to take to the streets, gun in hand and murder an innocent man on his way home from work. This isn't the first lone-wolf attack in this country. A close working relationship with the Muslim community may not have prevented this, but no working relationship most definitely won't.
Of course a large percentage of our community simply don’t trust any Muslim. They believe Muslims are lying low and waiting for 'someone' to flick the switch and then all the Muslims will rise up and murder us in our beds. An overly dramatic description, but not totally out of alignment with what I've observed some have said.
These are largely the same group who label anyone who supports Labor or Greens as scum and filth and who are viciously attacking the so called conservative traitors. So I guess, the level headed in our community shouldn't be surprised over the vitriolic lambasting doled out to anyone who doesn't share in the paranoia.
King’s College London Institute of Middle Eastern Studies researcher Jacob Michelson told The Australian the radicalisation of young people is more complicated than it might first appear, echoing the sentiments of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Jacob Michelson, a researcher from King's College London Institute Eastern Studies focusing on issues of identity among young Australian Muslims, made these comments in an interview with The Australian.
“What do we say about a 15-year-old who clearly possesses a rudimentary understanding of Islam as a theology,”
“When we start suggesting that 15-year-olds are smarter than they really are, we have a serious problem.
“In many ways this isn’t dissimilar to those youths who have perpetrated mass shootings at schools in the United States. Certainly, religion can be used as a way to justify one’s actions.
“But at the end of the day they all share a common desire for fame and notoriety.”
Wise words from someone who works in the field. As are the words of the wonderful Sara Khan from the We Will Inspire organisation, who has dedicated her life to fighting extremism and radicalisation of youth in the UK. And the UK group from Imams on Line.
I find it useful to listen to the real experts, rather than the armchair experts. This includes Muslims who understand the problems they face and who are dedicating their lives in an effort to fix those problems. Likewise, the security experts who are involved day in day out in dealing with extremism of all sorts.
As for our Muslim youth challenge, I think Sara Khan made a very relevant point in her condemnation of what many Islamist say. "The picture painted is that the West is at war with Islam, but equally Islam is at war with the West and Muslims having no choice but to pick a side." This is a demand made not only by radical Muslims but many in the west. Choose us or choose them. With a narrative like that, no wonder we have conflicts and many mixed up 15-year olds.
So far, I'm comfortable with the message sent by our Prime Minister and the commitment from Muslim leaders to engage. I'm trying extremely hard to ignore the idiotic comments made by the knockers who attack Turnbull for saying exactly what the experts and police have been saying for months. But then, the knockers are driven by a different agenda.
