Canberra’s Muslims respond to Pauline Hanson’s election

The leaders of Canberra’s Islamic communities say the best way to counter Pauline Hanson’s statements about Muslims is to continue promoting peace and tolerance.

One Nation’s policies include calling for a royal commission or inquiry into whether Islam is a religion or political ideology, stopping Muslim immigrants and refugees from entering the country, surveillance cameras in all mosques and Islamic schools, and banning the burqa, niqab and halal certification.

At a media conference on Monday, Ms Hanson asked reporters if they wanted to see “terrorism on our streets” or “our Australians murdered”.

“And if I’m so wrong and Muslims feel that way, why don’t I have them standing beside me saying, ‘Yes, we value the Australian way of life’,” she said.

The executive of the Islamic Society of the ACT decided against releasing a statement about both Ms Hanson’s statements and her election to the Senate.

Society president Abdul Hakim said the society had mostly focused on the final days of Ramadan and Eid ceremonies over recent days.

He said local mosques had given tours to non-Muslim Canberrans in the past to build understanding about the religion.

“My thoughts are that you can’t control the politicians, you can’t control the media, but you can only [continue practising peace in the community],” he said.

In an opinion piece published by Fairfax Media, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said while debate about multiculturalism and immigration was important, it was just as important to ensure such debate was conducted properly.

“If you constantly tell people that things are at breaking point, or that some groups are criminals and terrorists, don’t be surprised if people start taking you at your word,” he said.

“Whatever its nuance, religious bigotry does little to aid racial tolerance and harmony.”

Members of Canberra’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, part of a revivalist branch of Islam, said such messages did not intimidate them.

“We are not afraid of people who promote a message of intolerance and hatred,” the association’s vice-president Khalid Syed said.

“We know from experience that these kind of messages ultimately fail because the failure is in the root of these messages.

“We don’t have to show an exaggerated reaction to what a politician says. We should have enough tolerance to actually listen to her.”

The main Ahmadiyya mosque in Sydney holds an annual peace symposium, which Mr Syed said Ms Hanson could be invited to.

“We have to tell her and show her by our actions and our examples that we are peace-loving people.”

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