By BEN CAMERON
Muslim parents fear children could be seduced by extremists…
CARDINIA Shire’s Muslim community fears its young people will be lured into foreign religious wars.
Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood has revealed concerned Afghani parents and leaders have approached him over the issue.
Mr Wood – a former member of the Victoria Police counter-terrorism unit – said local Afghanis had raised the topic at a community dinner he hosted last November at the Beaconsfield Community Centre.
The senior Muslims were worried that young people were in danger of being seduced into fighting for radical forms of Islam overseas.
“We had a recent function here with one of our community groups, and I had parents coming up to me, young leaders coming up to me, saying they are greatly worried about their young children getting involved in becoming extremists,” he said.
“That’s a huge issue we need to deal with.
“To me, it’s basically brainwashing.”
He believed local Muslim leaders were adequately speaking out against recent atrocities where Western journalists were beheaded.
“I think they have been. The community function I had, I tell you what, they could not have been any more outspoken,” he said.
“The message could not be any more clearer.”
Mr Woods also hoped to host a program in the works for La Trobe targeting vulnerable youth, being developed by Muslim leader, academic and author Dr Anne Aly.
Dr Aly has presented at national and international conferences and workshops on terrorism and counter terrorism.
He said the forums aimed to link former young extremists, sharing their experiences in countries such as Syria, with vulnerable youth.
“You would have young people who are extremists who talk to other young people and say ‘Hey I’ve been to Syria and done all these things, what you’re being told by the people over here is not the way to go’,” he said.
“I’m planning to host one of these forums in La Trobe.”
“I meet so many people of various ethnic backgrounds, who if they went home to their country of origin they would be persecuted.
“The biggest danger is if we try to persecute anybody because of religion, a person should be judged on their actions.”
