Commonwealth Government Bankrolls Extremists

The community was invited to an open day at Preston Mosque.

Visitors will have full access to the interior of the Mosque, climb the minaret and have a view of Darebin, ask question you’ve wanted to ask, browse through our bookstore and make new friends.

This event is open to people of all faiths and both genders.

In case you were wondering... It's all about building bridges, people.

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department under its Building Community Resilience Grants Program.

Immediately below that post is a summary of a recent lecture given at the Mosque. I wonder if the Attorney General reviewed it before reaching for the chequebook.

Lots of questions were asked and answered by Robert Stary. Below is a summary of the night by one of the attendees, may Allah reward him
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I'd like to make it clear that Robert Stary is not an ordinary lawyer. He did not charge a fee to present the information session at the mosque because he is passionate about helping the Muslim community who he believes is being oppressed. His dealings with the cases of Jack Thomas and the Melbourne 13 (Melbourne terror trial) etc. have been a means for him to increase his knowledge of true Islam and not Islam portrayed by media outlets. He said his children attend a school with many Muslim students and he thinks it's crucial that they also have a proper understanding of Islam.

I found it interesting that he stated that the only crime Jack Thomas committed was converting to Islam and that they wanted to use him as a sacrificial lamb to give a warning to others. He also referred to the convicted brothers as 'the brothers'.

Read more about him and his credentials here.

May Allah (swt) guide him to Islam, ameen.

I'll try to be concise and list the main point’s insha' Allah.

Some facts about ASIO:

- They have tripled in size since 2001.

- The new ASIO building will be the largest building in Australia since the Parliament house.

- ASIO Act gives them enormous powers.

- $26m spend on counter-terrorism.

- ASIO work with the police and although ASIO cannot prosecute you, the police can.

- What you say to ASIO cannot be used against you in your prosecution.

Does ASIO target Muslims?

Yes. Robert believes that Australia has a pro-Israeli stance due to the powerful Jewish lobby groups who have the economic upper-hand in this country. Naturally, ASIO will try to suppress pro-Palestinian groups and sympathizer (i.e Muslims). Here is an official list of the designated terrorist organisations in Australia. You will notice that they are all Islamic organisations (minus PKK).

All Islamic organisations! Clearly those Buddhists need to lift their game...

What should I do if ASIO approach me?

There are two ways they can approach you, either formally or informally.

Informal:

- ASIO operatives may approach you and ask to have a coffee or a general chat (there is no such thing as a general chat because they will be recording the conversation covertly).

Must I answer their questions?

No, you do not have to answer their questions if they do not have a warrant. Robert's advice is to be polite to them and say that you have taken advice and you do not want to speak to them.

Even if you have not done anything wrong, there is no need to talk to them. Remember that they are not our friends and you may think that you have done nothing wrong but they are contacting you for a reason, not to have a friendly conversation. Their job is to collect intelligence. If they want to engage with the community then there are other ways of doing so.

If they keep hassling you, be firm and assertive and don't give in because you don't have to. Brothers who have dealt with them will know that they will hassle you.

Formal:

ASIO may contact you formally, that is with a warrant issued by the Attorney General.

- Under the ASIO Act, you must attend their interrogation.

- You don't have a right to silence. You must answer their questions. (Up to 5 yrs prison sentence if you don't)

- You may not be entitled to a lawyer of your choice (they need substantial grounds for denying you of this right).

- No right against self-incrimination.

- You may be prosecuted if you notify anybody that you have been questioned by ASIO or the nature of the discussion. (Some brothers in the Benbrika case who were questioned were not able to contact their families nor their employers telling them where they were).

If you don't comply with the above you may have committed an offence and may be charged.

Important note: If you are approached by ASIO and they say they have a warrant, you have the right to ask them to produce the warrant and see it. If they have a warrant to search your house, they will take anything they believe is of use to them (eg, laptop, books etc).

The only way they can enter your house without a warrant is if they appear to be friendly and you invite them in, which many people naturally do.

ASIO tactics:

- Covert operatives/infiltration. The use of this tactic has increased dramatically over the years as seen recently in the Melbourne terror trials where a Turkish police officer was used to infiltrate the group.

- Phone tapping/recordings. With advanced technology, they can tap into your conversations without you having a clue which may later be used as evidence (once again, Benbrika case phone conversations). Some websites are flagged and if you visit them you may be monitored although it is legal to visit them. I'm sure this forum is also being monitored.

Is it an offence to watch and download "Jihadi" material?

- This is a grey area of law and generally it's not an offence but can be as there is an offence called 'possession of a thing'.

- The material needs to be coupled with an application. In other words, you need to somehow use the material to plan something or apply it. (once again see Benbrika case, material + application (phone recordings)). It becomes an offence when coupled with action. Conspiring to do something is an action.

Do we have freedom of speech?

Yes we have freedom of speech but it is limited. You can voice your political opinion on a matter and there is nothing wrong with doing so. For example you can say "I think the Israeli government has committed war crimes and those perpetrators should be punished". If you say something along the lines of "the jews have killed our brothers and sisters so we should fight against them and kill them", inciting violence and hatred, then you will be in hot water.

For example, the Somali brothers were discussing how easy it is to infiltrate the army barracks along with some other inappropriate talk which lead them to be charged with conspiracy although it was impossible for them to carry out an act given the circumstances. Conspiracy is an offence, you don't need to possess weapons or anything of the like, talk is sufficient. Their case will be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday.

General/Random notes:

- Be careful when sending money overseas, even if it may be for humanitarian purposes. For example, sending money to a region in Somalia which is controlled by Al-Shabaab will be an offence and you may be charged.

- Supporting groups that want to overthrow/destabilize a foreign government is an offence. (eg, Arab spring).

- The role of ASIO is to gather intelligence so little things may not seem like a lot to you but they will have other intelligence on you and can bring the two together to make something out of it...

- In some instances, you can easily be charged with obstructing an officer so avoid confrontation in all circumstances.

I hope I have made sense as these notes were scribbled on paper (didn't take laptop) so I tried to tie it all together. If you need me to clarify anything please ask. In any case, the recording will be released soon insha' Allah and you can cross-reference what I have written to verify it in case I have been inaccurate.

Also, the brothers who have been approached by ASIO should get it documented at Preston Mosque for future reference insha' Allah.

Wassalam.

Why is the Attorney General's Department sponsoring an Open Day at this place? They should be working toward closing it.

Ex-Trad-Ition

Everybody's favourite Lebanese-Muslim spokesman, Keysar Trad lost a 2009 court case against radio broadcaster Alan Jones, who made some fairly pointed comments about Muslims. After losing, Trad appealed.

Last month the appeal panel ruled against him again.

For those reasons Mr Trad's appeal would ultimately fail. It would not be necessary to consider the factual questions concerning incitement.

I was also surprised by this bit:

37 Of particular potential significance here is this material pointed to by Mr Trad's experts:

Muslims in Australia gained an image of being problem migrants largely through the particular settlement experience of Lebanese Muslim migrants settled in Sydney as a result of the civil war [in Lebanon]. In particular this image was created and sustained by the fact that Lebanese Muslims experienced chronically high levels of unemployment in the 1980's and the 1990's, by the perception that Lebanese youth were heavily involved in gang activities and by the conviction of Lebanese Muslim brothers for gang rapes in Sydney.

Really? Could it not be because of the Lebanese-Muslim community's almost complete silence in the face of a nearly total failure to assimilate into the Australian Community? Rather than saying "we have a problem, what can we do about it?" it's been constant moaning that it's "racism", like a violent, rude child saying it's everybody else's fault that they're unpopular at school.

Were there ever any protests from the Islamic Community against Jihad? Against terrorism? Against any of the other problems within the religion? Not that I'm aware of.

Whereas if Israel bombs a few armed terrorists, you can have ten thousand Muslims marching in the streets on a day's notice. So we know they can get a crowd together when it suits them.

Of course, I'll probably get called a "racist" for saying any of this.

Sharia Morning Herald

An article in today's SMH reports on Muslim discomfort with the slow uptake of Sharia within the mainstream legal system.

Australia's Muslims would not move towards a parallel legal system if some Islamic practices were better integrated into the existing legal framework, a University of Sydney academic said.

Muslims won't implement their own set of laws? Isn't that nice of them. Needless to say, the SMH doesn't offer any critique of Sharia.

She continues to offer helpful advice on how Australians can be more culturally sensitive:

"I also think to not do anything about it at all, to dismiss this whole argument, is actually pushing the community towards setting up a parallel legal system."

In other words, this is going to happen whether we like it or not so we might as well help it along.

Terrific.

They haven't learned...

The Daily Telegraph reports:

Muslim parents who allowed their young daughter to hold a racist placard at a rally did her a terrible injustice, the state's new anti-discrimination boss says.

The offensive placard was paraded at a city rally in 2009 to protest against Israel's invasion of the Gaza strip that cost more than 1000 lives, the Herald Sun reported.

In a reference to the Holocaust, it featured a swastika and the words "Jews haven't learn(t)"...It is believed the issue was raised with the equal opportunity commission but no formal complaint was made because the culprits could not be identified.
Related Coverage

Mr Searle, who is Jewish, said yesterday that the placard represented a disgraceful and outrageous threat.

" But there is also the terrible injustice that in reality is being done to this little girl," he said.

"Presumably her parents bear significant responsibility for educating her, giving her the message and teaching her in a way that most of our community would find unacceptable and offensive."

Asked if the commission should look at the matter again, Mr Searle said: "I'd need to think very carefully if anything could be done because no one knows who the perpetrator was."

Not true at all. There are plenty of Muslims who know exactly who the perpetrator was.

Islamic Lawfare

Mark Durie reports:

Today the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Michael Smith, 2UE Radio Host, is being investigated by the Australian Media and Communications authority "over his assertion that the prophet Muhammad 'married a nine-year-old and consummated it when she was 11'".

It would be excellent if Australian authorities did look into Muhammad's marital arrangements with his young wife Aisha, because it is a significant human rights issue which will not go away.

Accuracy in reporting is always important, and all the more so because Muhammad's example is regarded as perfect by pious Muslims, and a model for all humanity to follow. The circumstances of Muhammad's marriages provide a fundamental point of reference for sharia law. They determine, for example, the marriage age for girls in societies which seek to comply with the Islamic sharia.

The fact of the matter is that Michael Smith got his facts wrong. The matter is worse than he said. According to the most authoritative Islamic sources, Muhammad married Aisha when she was 6, and he consummated the union when she was 9. He was 53 at the time.

Muslims are commanded to live their life in the footsteps of Mohammed - an illiterate with a penchant for young girls. I hope I don't get sued for saying so...

Update: Andrew Bolt has blogged about it. However he can't allow comments as he's tired of being sued. Lawfare works.

Jihadi Jobseeking

Via comments, Boy on a Bike discovers one of the all-time great job descriptions:

"Palestinian experts in conflict resolution and peace studies."

Imagine the Key Performance Indicators for the role.

Minimum Exposure

The following letter appears in both the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

As a Jewish woman, I am concerned by the lack of sensitivity the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has shown by unconditionally empowering the police to remove the burqa from religious Muslim women. At the very least there should be an attempt to ensure a female policewoman is present, in which case there is no problem to remove the burqa.

Where is the balance between religious respect and ensuring law and order? These laws against specific religious expression can be the beginning of far more insidious laws that are more about prejudice than justice.

Donna Jacobs Sife Willoughby

According to her website, Donna Jacobs Sife is:

a singer, storyteller, educator and published writer, who uses her talents to enlighten and enhance tolerance and understanding within the people she touches... has been involved with Judaism as a teacher, performer, writer and contemporary interpreter with regards to creative, spiritual and ritualistic expression for 20 years.

Yes. Well.

How I long for the day, when outspoken Muslims stand up for the rights of Jews. Might make a change for calling for them to be killed, or simply staying silent when others do.

Update: Sensible letters in The Australian:

WHEN women make up only 21 per cent of all police officers in Australia, Donna Jacobs Sife, ensuring the presence of a female officer for the removal of a burka in an identity check is not only impractical and costly, it actually inhibits police officers from doing their job effectively.

One would also imagine that the burqua inhibits women from doing a lot of things effectively. Including driving. The Saudis took care of that problem by banning women from driving. Perhaps we can try a different approach to the problem?

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Andrew Bolt notes the demands placed on Australia in order to allow Muslims to 'fit in' and asks:

At such a price, is Muslim immigration worth the hassle?

To be fair, you need to consider all the benefits that it offers.

Feel free to list them in comments.

Dishonesty about Sharia

Via The Australian:

THE nation's peak Muslim group is using the Gillard government's re-embracing of multiculturalism to push for the introduction of sharia in Australia, but it says it would be a more moderate variety of Islamic law that fits with Australian values.

Let me guess. They wouldn't chop off hands and heads until Australian society felt it was ready for that.

According to Australian Federation of Islamic Councils' President, Ikebal Adam Patel:

"It is important for someone who is Muslim or a practising Jew that aspects of our religion which can be incorporated within the greater legal system are introduced.

Excuse me? Practicing Jews aren't trying to forcibly impose their religion on others. Considering that Muslims today represent the number one Jew-murderers since the Second World War, I'd say it's a bit of Chutzpah for the Islamic Sharia Advocates to be invoking the Jewish community as an argument for the spread of their own misogynistic, backward 7th Century practices, which amongst other things would see Jewish people convert or die.

This is followed by an question of how the Muslim community views their successful integration to date:

"Muslims are required to have social integration with the majority of people in Australia: what does this really mean? Should Muslims remove the hijab, dress like others, drink alcohol and go to the pub to demonstrate they have actually integrated?"

Yes. Because everyone knows, to be a true Australian, you need to be an alcohol drinking slut.

It is not 'us' who are ostracising Muslims. It is Muslim political and religious leaders who are actively creating enclaves and spreading fear about integration with non-Muslims.

Update: Ikebal Patel was on the phone to MTR Radio for an on-air video until he heard he'd be speaking to Andrew Bolt. He refused the interview and hung up.

I guess you can only fool some people...

Building Bridges

NSW Police Force reports:

Police and school students in Sydney’s south-west have taken part in an innovative program aimed at breaking down cultural stereotypes and bolstering community relations.

The Stand Tall Project aims to promote harmony between police and Muslim youths in the Bankstown area by dismantling ethnic and religious typecasts and improving communication.

Thirty-four high school students were mentored by 16 officers from Bankstown Local Area Command during the three-day program held in March and April this year.

The program included in-depth discussions on how police and local youths perceive each other, as well as domestic violence, road safety and career development.

Police and students also competed in a friendly indoor soccer match, 10-pin bowling and laser skirmish, and visited Luna Park.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in South-Western Sydney:

Police are appealing for public assistance after two shop attendants were assaulted during a robbery at a convenience store in Sydney’s west last night.

About 10pm, approximately 10 men and youths entered the store on Cumberland Road, Auburn, and took a number of items from the shelves before running towards the exit.

As they were leaving a 23-year-old male employee was punched to the head. A 50-year-old female employee who was attempting to stop them was also assaulted.

The men and youths then ran from the store with two of them leaving on pushbikes.

Police and emergency services were notified and attended a short time later.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics treated the man and woman for minor injuries.

Officers attached to Flemington Local Area Command attended, established a crime scene and canvassed the area.

The men are all described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance and aged between 17 and 21 years.

Nothing a bit more laser-tag and bowling wouldn't fix...

Not All Muslims Kill Christians, Firebomb Church

Clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Egyptian capital have left eight dead and more than 100 injured, and a church was set on fire.

Clearly this is because of the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. I mean, isn't that the root cause of all Muslim grievances?

Media Honours

Professor Bunyip reports a possible case of Islamic Honour Killing, which seems to have been completely missed by the Australian media.

As always, it's important to note that not all Muslims would kill their child rather than have it change religion.

Word on the Streets of Lakemba...

Not all Muslims are terrorists.

Especially the ones who post at the Australian Muslim Village Forums, who have had this to say after the news that Osama bin Laden was killed.

everyone even non-muslims knows that the US pulled off the 911 event.
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the last time Ive heard he died in 2002 according to the news <_< o well never believe in what media says ... this means that the US is going to continue terrorising afghanistan!
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It is really good that this 'latest' news didn't come out early to disrupt the global mood during the wedding of century spectacle few days ago
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It is interesting that Obama is the first African-American President to invade an African country, and the first former-Muslim to perpetuate the US crusade in the Muslim lands.
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i bet fox is quiet coz they don't wanna be involved in the falsehood
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George W Bush is a terrorist, I don't know about millions, but he has killed many many Muslims, he should be put to trail and if found guilty should be executed.
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Those who cheered 9-11 were cheering because they had been suffering the results of America's greed in their region. They felt it was about time that America got a taste of what it feels like to have a foreigner attack your cities and disrupt your way of life. Those who cheered Osama's death were cheering because their government had crushed someone who dared to fight back against their "shock and awe" attitude to diplomacy and economic expansion in the Arab and Muslim world.
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they don't want his grave to become a shrine to his followers (sounds a lot like 'we dont want you guys to dig his remains and find out we lied to you')

Somehow this reminds me of when they found passports and other forms of ID of the alleged 9/11 hijackers... even though the planes, buildings and people were all incinerated.

Say what you want but while I adjust my tin foil hat, think about how convenient this all is...
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I'm quite certain that this whole affair is an utter shuck from start to finish. They probably confirmed that Osama bin Laden died from kidney faliure, thus robbing America from the opportunity to kill him and satisfy their lust for revenge. Simple matter to stage an assassination in the dark and take his not-existent body away to be buried at sea with no witnesses.

Just to be clear, these deluded, misguided and in many cases poorly educated fools, are right here in Australia.

If this is what they say in the open, one can only wonder what they're saying behind closed doors...