Excerpt:
Australia's Grand Mufti has called for Muslims to be given the same protections as ethnic groups under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, saying the law must be "strengthened", not weakened, in the interest of minorities.
The push to broaden the act is already drawing criticism from conservative government MPs, with one Liberal senator warning it would be tantamount to creating a "national blasphemy law".
Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, the Grand Mufti since 2011, has added his voice to a growing backlash from community, religious and ethnic groups against reforming section 18C, in a campaign that will test Malcolm Turnbull's resolve to change the law.