BY DUROYAN FERTL

SYDNEY — In response to continuous media and government vilification of Muslims in south-west Sydney, 50 people attended a meeting in Bankstown on November 26 organised by the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group entitled “Don't vilify our community”.

Aaron Benedek, from the Books not Bombs youth anti-war network and the socialist youth organisation Resistance, outlined the racist nature of the police harassment of Muslim youth and the ASIO raids on Muslim immigrants. He cited the comments of NSW police commissioner Ken Moroney, claiming that “urban terrorists” were dragging Australia “back to medieval standards”, as evidence of this.

“These attacks are used to justify the war in Iraq, and to distract from real social problems — health, housing and education”, Benedek said.

Hanan Dover, from the University of Western Sydney Student Muslims Association and Mission for Peace, stressed the right of “all Australians to a fair go” and called upon people to respond with wisdom and compassion, saying that during the recent attacks, Muslims were feeding the homeless in the city centre.

Nikolai Haddad, from the Sawiyan committee in solidarity with Palestine, highlighted the need for alternative media, to help question the mainstream media's stereotyping. “It is necessary to band together”, he said, “and, like the late Edward Said said, `Speak truth to power'”.

Socialist Alliance spokesperson Raul Bassi said: “If the people arrested were guilty, charge them, but don't vilify a whole community!” He noted that those targeted by ASIO had been detained only “because they used the same mosque as a French citizen who overstayed his visa”. All of those raided by ASIO have been released without charge.

Kuranda Seyit, editor of the Australian Muslim News, stressed that people need to take the initiative, and act quickly in unity, rather than wait for corrupt politicians: “The power to change lies in the people.”

From Green Left Weekly, December 3, 2003.
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