The Australian government has stepped up a campaign against radical Muslims, saying those wanting to live under Islamic law or refusing to accept “Australian values” should leave. At the same time, it plans to monitor mosques to ensure that radical messages are not being taught.
Prime Minister John Howard said Thursday the government wanted “to penetrate the Islamic community and to try and get to the people who are preaching support for terrorism” to ensure that youngsters in particular were not being influenced.
Members of Howard’s cabinet also weighed in against those in the Muslim community holding radical views.
“If you want to be in Australia, if you want to raise your children in Australia, we fully expect those children to be taught and to accept Australian values and beliefs,” Education Minister Brendan Nelson told reporters Wednesday.
Those who did not want to live by Australian values “can clear off,” he said.
Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said on Australian television that radicals who wished to live under Islamic law should go and live elsewhere.
“If you want a country which has shari’a law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you,” he said.
This is an appropriate response and one we should adopt in this country. Those preaching Radical Islam and supporting terrorism must be rooted out and dealt with by either deportation or prison. In prison they just convert more people to their cause so you figure it out.
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