Muslim refugees to Australia

There is a lot of suspicion across the Australian population about the wisdom of our immigration policy that welcomes refugees who are Muslims.

A letter in the West Australian newspaper, May 31, 2017, (p25), titled 'The Koran's violence' cited three Koran passages to support the notion "But any follower of Islam who reads and takes seriously the Koran is duty bound to follow it's every word."  The Koran passages were:


  • "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.  Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them."
  • "Slay the idolaters wherever you fond them and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush."
  • Ch 5, Verse 8 warns Muslims not to befriend Jews and Christians.

The first point to make is that the writer of this letter to the Editor is acting on an incorrect assumption that all Muslims are duty bound to act on such statements, that is to take them literally and act on them.

The second point is that this writer needs to take the time to see how Muslim scholars of the Koran interpret such statements.  He will see that the above taken out of historic context can be interpreted in other ways than the literal.

I am an Aussie citizen but not a Muslim and I want my country to reach out and offer haven to persecuted refugees whether Muslim or not.  I believe that the Muslim communities of Australia love their religion and probably can't conceive of ever giving it up for another faith or becoming a non believer.  However I also believe that they respect the rights of others to be Christians, Jews, Hindus etc. and my research shows that enlightened Muslims can be accepting of those of other faiths.  My research also shows that the casting of terror,  the beheading and slaying refers to a long gone historical period when Muslims were being persecuted for their faith and were at war with the persecutors.

Christians have in the distant past been horrific persecutors of those with a differing view of Christianity and/or a differing faith.  21st century Christians generally act in a more tolerant way.  Muslim extremists in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Philippines are killing Muslims in acts of terror.  The Muslim moderates are fighting back against the terrorists and hopefully will prevail.

In the latest Baghdad bombing by ISIS a Muslim Australian 12 year old girl was killed.  Her Muslim family and Australian Muslims in general abhor such horrific criminal acts.  This youngster was visiting with her family to meet up with her grandparents.

As long as Australian Muslims accept the separation of the state from religion we are in a good place because we have faith that our Muslims are moderate and enlightened in this 21st century.

The Australian government is doing all it can to ensure that our Muslims are true refugees fleeing from persecution.

May the Force for tolerance be with us!


GD



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