‘Evil Ideology’: Australian Muslim Group Denounces ISIS

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has denounced terror group ISIS as dangerous and having no connection to Islam.

The statement comes just over a week after alleged terrorists Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.

During investigations, police located two ISIS flags in the belongings of the alleged Bondi shooters.

The pair is also alleged to have filmed an ISIS-style video before the mass shooting.

Police will allege the two acted in a “joint criminal enterprise” fuelled by an extremist political and religious ideology associated with ISIS.

In a lengthy statement, the organisation, which is the highest Islamic authority in Australia, said all member imams and religious leaders condemned ISIS.

“[ISIS’] actions and ideology stand in complete opposition to the teachings of Islam and the values upheld by Muslims worldwide,” the statement said.

“This position has been clear and consistent by ANIC since the very emergence of ISIS and has been maintained without hesitation ever since.

“The Muslim world has suffered firsthand at the hands of ISIS, with the overwhelming majority of its victims being Muslims.”

ANIC said communities across the Middle East, Africa, and other continents had suffered mass killings, displacement, and the destruction of places of worship and mosques at the hands of ISIS.

“ISIS does not represent Islam or the Muslim world in any way,” the statement said.

“Its ideology is evil and rooted in violence and terror. It bears no relationship to Islamic teachings, ethics, or scholarship, which emphasise the sanctity of life, justice, and mercy.”

ANIC has also drawn the ire of ISIS for speaking out, according to the group, which says its senior members had been assassination targets in 2017.

“This was part of ISIS’s campaign of intimidation at the height of its activity and acts of terror,” the group said.

The two-page statement also notes the organisation rejects the term “Islamic State” to describe ISIS and calls on all politicians and media to refrain from using the term.

“This terrorist organisation does not deserve any association with Islam in name or description,” the group said.

“We also reject any attempt to connect ISIS or its members to Islam or to frame its evil and dangerous ideology as a distorted version of the Islamic faith.”

Wong Calls ISIS a Violent Ideology

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also criticised ISIS in a post on Dec. 20, where she issued her support for U.S. strikes on the terror group in Syria.

“ISIS is a radical, extremist organisation which has caused immense suffering worldwide, including the ISIS-inspired antisemitic terror attack at Bondi last Sunday,” she said.

“We must all stand together to reject its violent ideology.”

Anger Over ISIS Flag Use

ISIS flags have been spotted at a number of pro-Palestine protests in Australia, something which has been criticised by Nationals turned One Nation member Barnaby Joyce.

In a speech given on Dec. 21, Joyce condemned a perceived lack of leadership for allowing terrorist flags to be flown at weekly protests around Australia.

“In the end, they let them walk over [Sydney] Harbour Bridge, both directions, with Hamas flags, Hezbollah flags, ISIS flags,” he said.

“Why wasn’t there a change made then? What other warning did they need? What were they waiting for?”

This week, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urgently recalled parliament to legislate penalties for displaying the ISIS flag.

Those who display it can now face a maximum penalty of two years’ jail, a $22,000 fine, or both.