Get out of Australia, 'radical' Muslims told

AFP ^ | 24 August , 2005 | Lawrence Bartlett

[george76]

Muslims who want to live under the Islamic Sharia law were told Wednesday to get out of Australia as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off".

Muslim schools will have to denounce terrorism as part of an effort to stamp out home-grown extremism under measures announced after Howard's meeting with 14 Islamic leaders Tuesday.

Asked if he was prepared to "get inside" mosques and schools to ensure there was no support for terrorism, Howard said: "Yes, to the extent necessary".

Britain, shaken by the rail and bus bombings which killed 56 people, is debating new powers which could include closing mosques where clerics are suspected of supporting extremists and deporting those who glorify suicide bombers.

[CATravelAgent]

Don't forget that there is a mosque in liberal white Marin County that bred an American terrorist, John Walker Lindh.

[dha]

Muslims cannot stand the civilized countries they have moved to. They hate every single thing about them. To me that says loud and clear that the ONLY reason they move there is to take over and make that nation islamic. Nothing else makes any sense... Not even economic gain would make me move to a place I hated everything about.

[meandog]

Asked to leave.... drag them out side and throw them into the sea. Make their radical arses swim back to extremist land.

...and ensure that the sea is full of box jellyfish, blue octopi, great whites and crocodiles!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

couldn't agree more.

[Alas Babylon!]

Howard is a conservative. In Australia, like other parliamentarian system nations, the Liberal party is actually conservative, and the Labor party is liberal (read Leftist). The Socialists are just that: socialists.

[Napoleon Solo]

Now if we can only get the Canadians and our own country on board, this would be a trifecta!!

[kajingawd]

OY OY OY!

[John O]

Could you please Are you saying Caribou Coffee is run by Islamic extremists?

All islamics are extremists. The koran commands them to be terrorists

[thulldud]

...and ensure that the sea is full of box jellyfish, blue octopi, great whites and crocodiles!

That's cruelty to animals.

[bboop]

Precisely how is Caribou Coffee run, plz? It is Muslim-owned, I hear. And ...? specifics would help. thanks.

[bboop]

'Islamic version of Kosher laws.' With the addition of chopping hands off for thieving, heads off for Christianity, etc. And I bet they won't deal with Jews, either.... Thanks.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> Now why is this so hard for so many European (and some American) leaders to say

Because the Australians have the stones for it! The European "leaders" are (mostly) pansies, while the Americans are too concerned with being PC and not offending the poor, put-upon Muslims.

If I were forced to choose a new home country, Australia seems like the only viable choice. Good on'ya, mates!

[spinestein]

I can't disagree with anything you said.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> Can you imagine the outrage that would erupt from the left if George W. Bush dared to say such things here?

It would be worth it, just to see the veins in Kennedy's forehead explode.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I hear Melbourne is a gorgeous city.....;)

It is. Lots of people don't pronounce it properly though: "Mel-burn". I lived in Canberra - "Can-bra" for 14 years. That was a beautiful place, too.

[highlander_UW]

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television.

Can you imagine the outcry if president Bush went on TV and made this announcement?!

[isrul]

What will they say in the muslim street?

[isrul]

Maybe there are too many metrosexuals in Europe and America.

[isrul]

Bush would never say that. He fancies himself too "compassionate". Blair might say it at some point, even though he usually comes across as somewhat of a pantywaist.

[cajun-jack]

yep, they are just beheading folks that americans won't behead!!!