1 Australia and the Appeasement of Islam Personal thoughts from the founder of Boldtutor – a citizen who has transitioned from the political left to the right on issues concerning Islamic acceptance and tolerance in Western society 2 This paper is not an academic text. It is a personal account that highlights the reasons behind my transition from a passionate believer of Islamic appeasement, to an individual that has lost complete respect for a religion that offers nothing of value to western citizens or me. Regardless, I have still conducted some research, and references are included at the end of this paper for those interested. Furthermore, there are times when I reflect on my transition and consider whether or not I have become misinformed or short sighted. This state of mind occurs when I tutor young Muslim individuals who are among the most courteous and open-minded people I have had the pleasure of teaching. Such Muslims however I believe are vastly outnumbered by a ‘moderate’ group of Muslims who strongly favour and promote the outdated patriarchal doctrine in the Quran and Hadith – a doctrine I had once accepted and tolerated. That compassion for Islam no longer exists within me…it is a speck upon distant shore…too small to draw notice. 3 Introduction – Falling for a wolf in sheep’s clothing From the period of 2009 to 2014, I considered myself a person loyal to the group promoting the tolerance of Islam and its values in western society. I analysed ideas such as Edward Said’s Orientalism at University and even wrote essay’s critiquing US foreign policy in the Middle East, Israel’s actions against Palestine and western media coverage of Muslims and the Middle East. In essence, I found myself respecting a Muslim’s right to practice or preach Islamic doctrine in Western nations like Australia. Indeed I remember debating about the virtues of embracing difference and tolerating Islam with family and friends who are against the idea of Islamic appeasement. We were watching a Channel Ten show called Can of Worms in 2011 and one of the questions asked was ‘Is the burqa out of place in Australia?’ I argued that the burqa should have a place in Australia while the rest of my family argued against its acceptance. Certain experiences with Muslims, particularly with the radical terrorist Man Haron Monis in 2009 at Sydney’s Downing Centre court, coupled with a closer study of The Quran and the 4 Hadith has reshaped my mindset on the issue of Islamic appeasement in Australia considerably. While studying Journalism at Macleay College, a friend and I were heading off to the Ogalo Portuguese burger restaurant for lunch. On our way there, we stopped and observed the peaceful protest of the man now infamously known as the terrorist responsible for the 2014 Lindt Café Siege. My friend and I stood approximately three metres or so away from Man Monis as he chained himself and outlined his criticism of Australia’s military involvement in the Middle East, particularly in Afghanistan. Given that it was a peaceful protest, my friend and I didn’t think too much of Man Monis or his message. We eventually exited the scene and had lunch at Ogalo’s, not knowing that five years on that this would be the very figure that would rock Australia’s social foundation to its core. Indeed I observed Man Monis and mistakenly saw an individual that was misguided but harmless. He presented himself as an emotionally reserved figure of vulnerability on 5 that afternoon in 2009 – a perfect wolf in sheep’s clothing. A man who, at the time, held no ill intentions towards Australian citizens…so I believed. I thus accepted and appreciated Man Monis’ right to protest and critique Australia’s involvement in the Middle East. My mindset during this period was considerably positioned on the left of the political spectrum. In other words, I had been taught to accept and develop a form of compassion to the ‘marginalised’ religion of Islam in Australia. I continued to embrace leftist interpretations of issues such as Islamic immigration, multiculturalism and economics. While studying at University in 2011, I wrote several essays and reports critiquing the influence of Americanization and westernization on citizens with a middle-eastern background that follow the religion of Islam. My views however began to transition from the left to the political right by 2014 – the year that Man Monis initiated a 6 hostage crisis in Sydney that would result in the deaths of two innocent civilians. At the end of the day, Man Monis had me fooled. He was the perfect wolf in sheep’s clothing. A Trojan horse that was given the opportunity to start a new life in Australia, far away from the instability he experienced in his native Iran. Man Monis settled in Australia in 1996, despite Iran warning the Australian government of his criminal record. Australia ignored the warnings however and granted Man Monis asylum. Why? What was the payoff? What did Australia expect to attain by letting Man Monis become an Australian citizen? I began questioning my tolerance and political beliefs regarding Islamic appeasement and I found that my patience for Islam had finally worn thin. I couldn’t help but imagine how furious I would have been if my parents or a loved one were held hostage inside the Lindt Café on that fateful day in December 2014. Man Monis’ actions in Sydney impacted me greatly, given that it encouraged me to recall the reaction of several ‘moderate’ Muslim children at primary school when the United States was attacked by radical Islamic terrorists on September 11 2001. At the time, I was in year 6 in primary school but I recall vividly the reaction of many Muslim kids 7 who were celebrating the attacks. Looking back, It was fascinating to recall how deeply, anti-western discourse and Islamic doctrine, was engrained within young Muslim children (all of them male) in Australia. Such doctrine glorifies the actions of those who attack the West, particularly the United States. Indeed the guardians or parents of these children may not align themselves with ISIS or other terrorist groups, but there is no question in my mind that deep anti-western rhetoric is still being filtered through to ‘moderate’ Muslims who are Australian citizens. Indeed I have tutored many ‘moderate’ Muslims, particularly Muslim men, in NSW. I often engage in private conversations with these figures discussing Man Monis, ISIS, the United States, Australia and Israel. All of them were sympathetic to Man Monis and all hold deep contempt for US, Western and Australian influence in the Middle East. When I discussed the topic of Jerusalem and whether or not it was the capital of Israel, most Muslim clients held the view that Jerusalem should be the capital of Palestine and it should be made the capital through any means necessary. Of course, these clients also hold the view that the laws and doctrine in the Quran and Hadith outweigh the laws and doctrine of Western government. Again 8 these views were made clear during personal discussions with Muslim clients and thus I could not record or sample evidence. What there is evidence of however are the anti-western comments made by the Grand Mufti of Australia – a figure that holds immense sway over Australia’s Muslim population. If the Grand Mufti holds such views, one can be sure that those who recognize his authority hold similar perspectives. These perspectives will be discussed later in this paper. Questioning the Quran and Hadith In spite of my wavering beliefs on Islamic appeasement, I decided to read the Quran for the first time – an English translation by Tarif Khalidi - just to clarify if I was misinterpreting Islam unfairly. I also examined the Islamic Hadith. A fascinating read, the Quran is a text that contains its fair share of inconsistencies and flaws. Taken literally, I decided not to invest in Islamic doctrine given that the Quran offered me no rule or discourse that I would deem worthy of implementation to improve either western society or myself in general. The following excerpts from the Quran are testament to such a statement: 9 - ‘Do not marry polytheistic (people who worship more than one god) women unless they believe (in Islam). A female slave, who is a believer, is better than a polytheistic woman, even if winning your admiration. Do not give in marriage to polytheists unless they believe. A male slave who is a believer is better than a polytheistic man, even if winning your admiration. These people will lead you to the fire, but God leads you to the Garden and forgiveness, by His leave.’ – p. 30 - Your women are your sowing fields: approach your field whenever you please.’ – p. 30 - Women have the selfsame rights and obligations in conformity with fairness, but men are a grade more responsible than them.’ – p. 31 - ‘Whoso desires a religion other than Islam, this shall not be accepted from him, And in the afterlife he will be among the losers.’ – p. 50 10 - ‘O believers, it is not licit for you to inherit women against their will…Live with them in kindness..’ – p. 64 But then you get this - - Thus, virtuous women are obedient, and preserve their trusts, such as God wishes them to be preserved…. If they obey you, seek no other way against them.’ –pp. 66-67 - O believers, take not Jews and Christians for allies; they are allies of one another. Whoso among you takes them as allies is counted of their number.