The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) has urged all Victorians to stand together in affirming the principles of multiculturalism and to resist demonising members of the Muslim community in the wake of the Paris and other recent terrorist attacks.
ECCV chairperson Eddie Micallef said it is well recognised that multiculturalism and the embrace of diversity are what underlie the strengths of Victorian society, and this is something that should be continually supported and celebrated.
“The ECCV is appalled by the barbarity of the terrorist attacks in Paris and in other places such as Beirut in recent times, and totally condemns those who have been involved in carrying them out.
“I would urge Victorians, however, to resist the temptation to criticise all Muslims within our community because of the acts of an isolated criminal element. It has long been recognised that one of the best ways to counter radicalisation is by using Islam to counter the messages of radical Islam.
“No religious tradition should be blamed. Rather, we need to understand that one of the answers in this highly-complex issue lies in engaging in a meaningful and ongoing dialogue with Muslim parents, leaders, teachers and their communities.
“The violent extremist recruiters and others of their ilk have been very sophisticated in their use of social media, in particular, to groom and recruit what are often vulnerable young people in our communities, and one way to counter that is by using those same tools to show how flawed their corrupted ideology is.”
Mr Micallef said the ECCV strongly supported the recent call by the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) secretary, Kuranda Seyit, about the importance of the Victorian community standing together to denounce evil.
“ECCV commends and supports the ICV for its recently-reported comments on the need to differentiate between the actions of violent criminals and the religion of Islam. We are also totally supportive of Mr Kuranda’s view that Australia’s strength as a nation comes from its multicultural diversity and the social harmony that comes with it.
“ECCV is also very concerned about the potential backlash against some Muslim women, who have the right to have their religious dress respected.
“People should resist the simplistic urge to lash out at members of the Muslim community as a response to the terrorist attacks in Paris and other parts of the world. It should be remembered that there have been many members of the Muslim community who have been victims of these attacks, which highlights and underscores the perpetrators’ utter criminality.
“ECCV would like to express its deepest sympathy to all the victims of the Paris and Beirut attacks, and to extend its condolences to them, their families, friends and members of
their communities.”