SYDNEY — Fifty-five people attended an April 4 forum at the University of NSW on “War and racism: why are Muslims targeted?” It was the first public event organised by the UNSW Students Against War.

Waleed Khadous from the UNSW Islamic Society criticised the media and politicians’ promotion of negative stereotypes of Muslims. He pointed out the irony in media demands that the “Muslim community” and Islamic leaders turn in Lebanese youths responsible for revenge attacks after the December 2005 Cronulla riots when no-one is demanding that Catholic or Anglican archbishops turn in the Anglo youth who attacked people of Middle Eastern appearance during the riots.

Khadous said: “Many Muslims feel like leaving Australia, even those who were born here. Many Muslims are afraid to attend anti-war rallies and meetings like this one lest they attract attention or expose their community to accusations of ‘supporting terrorism’.”

Peter Hobson, from Christian Students Uniting, asked the rhetorical question, “Who would Jesus bomb?”, before criticising the hypocrisy of Christian political leaders such as George Bush, John Howard and Tony Blair.

UNSW Students Against War will meet on April 11 at noon in room 5 of the Morven Brown building to organise further activities. For more information, phone Shua on 0438 806 948.

Shua Garfield

From Green Left Weekly, April 12, 2006.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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