“I understand that the media is attracted to such caricatures of Islam, and would most likely not report a conference of 1000 moderate Muslims”

Yes, unfortunately the MSM doesn’t pick up on the Creativity & Spirituality conferences, the Habib Umar tour, the Jewish Christian Muslim Association conferences, the Benevolence camps & meetings, or the al-Ghazzali rihlas and activities, all of which promote positive and (Australian-democracy-loving) inclusive interpretations of Islam. Hizb ut-Tahrir, on the other hand, sells newspapers :/

My research on Muslims’ social attitudes suggests that groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir do serve a particular function for some in our socially-devalued, stigmatised community. This is where a small number of (in this case) Muslims feel alienated enough to join groups that give them a sense of mission and identity. HT doesn’t have much of a reach outside of Sydney, so whilst I’m not particularly surprised by the numbers reported, I also don’t think this is reflective of the broader mainstream Muslim community.

The way we cut the oxygen from groups like HT, is to promote social inclusion in Australia. Recognising that Islam is part of the Australian religious landscape, actively work against new forms of racism, xenophobia and prejudice, and send the message to our Muslim kids that they do indeed belong in Australia. That they can be Australian and Muslim successfully.

One of the ways is for the media to switch attention and airtime from groups like HT to the more mainstream activities like the ones I listed above.

According to the SMH report,

“MUSLIMS in Australia were urge to renounce moderate forms of the religion and to reject democracy

The group is proscribed in Germany for anti-Semitism, and Russia declared it a criminal organisation in 1999.

There have been unsuccessful calls to ban the group in Britain and Australia.

Wassim Kabbara, 33, said he had come to the conference as a ”litmus test for me … to see what these guys are doing versus what the West is trying to do”. He agreed with themes at the conference that ”Islam and democracy do not come together”.

The keynote speaker, Dr Mohammad Jeelani, said the West had decided to ”plant a cancer in the Muslim world”, and that cancer was the state of Israel.

The group openly rejects democratic government and tells Muslims in Australia to boycott elections.”

While I fully suport ttheir right to freely express any viewpoint they wish, do you think this group is represting Islam as you woud define it? Does it concern you that 1000 peole attended the conference?

regards

Nicholas

http://www.smh.com.au/national/muslims-obligated-to-resist-democracy-say-radicals-20110703-1gxfw.html#ixzz1R4rFANa4