Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on
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 and her Queen 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. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching
that there are two laws governing people in Australia: one the Australian
law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with
parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia
law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices
it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.
Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he
said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the
other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters
that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off.
Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want
to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can
basically clear off", he said.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by
saying he supported spy
agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT
AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation
worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture.
"
Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in
patriotism by the majority. "However, the dust from the attacks had
barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining
about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not
against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking
a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things
that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some
born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a
multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our
national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own
society, our own language and our own lifestyle.
"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles,
trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought
freedom. "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic,
Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish
to become part of our society, Learn the language!
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian,
rightwing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women,
on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly
documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our
schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of
the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. "We will
accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you
accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us. "If the
Southern Cross offends you! , or you don't like " A Fair Go",then
you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We
are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really
don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep
your culture, but do not force it on others.
"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will
allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done
complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our
Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take
advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."
"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come
here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."
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Originally Posted by steveo
