PM's Muslim summit unrepresentative of Muslims

The following "Statement to the Muslims participating at the PM's Summit", signed by 51 Australian Muslim organisations, was issued on August 22.

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Dear Muslim delegates,

The Muslims represented by the undersigned organisations wish to submit our concerns via this statement to the participants of the prime minister's summit to be held on Tuesday 23 August 2005. We call upon you to raise the following issues on behalf of our constituent communities:

As Australian Muslims,

1. We denounce all acts of violence targeting innocent civilians.
2. We confirm that it is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to work tirelessly to protect the lives of all civilians.
3. We refuse to be held accountable for the actions of individuals that commit heinous crimes in the name of Islam.
4. We reaffirm our commitment as Australian citizens to adhere to the laws of Australia guided by our faith. If it is suggested that any laws have been broken by any individual or group then this must be proven by due legal process.
5. We state clearly that no Australian should ever fear our community. We remain today an integral part of the Australian society. Muslims have for over a century come to Australian shores and successfully integrated within the community; we are part of this community and will continue to do so into the future as Australian citizens.
6. We are greatly concerned about the increased hostility shown and incitement of hatred towards our community. We call upon the authorities to take the appropriate measures under the law to stop those who are responsible for the incitement of hatred. We also call on the political leadership and the media to act with responsibility to ensure harmony is promoted.
7. We are committed to supporting all efforts to weed out harmful elements within our community, but we believe it should not be our sole responsibility for preventing criminal acts of violence — this is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies including federal and state police forces.
8. Like all other communities, the Australian Muslim community should be allowed to manage its own affairs independently. We reject the proposal to form a government-sanctioned body to regulate the Muslim community.
9. We are committed to ensure that Australia continues to value diversity and freedom of religious expression. For example, religious symbols, like the wearing of hijab by Muslim women, must be a permanent feature of this freedom.
10. We oppose the use of terms such as "radical", "fundamentalist", "Islamist", and "moderate" in the current discourse about the Muslim community. These artificial labels only serve to further divide the community.
11. We acknowledge that it is natural for Muslims to feel sympathy with fellow Muslims elsewhere in the world and to desire justice for those of them living under oppression. To denounce anybody who questions the legitimacy of Australian government foreign policy will be seen as an attempt to silence academic thought and legitimate political expression. Any disagreement must be expressed through debate not censorship.
12. We insist that the current debate concerning terrorism should be correctly discussed within its global context. We are concerned that the Australian people are unaware of the concern within the Muslim community regarding Australia's ongoing commitment to military operations within key Muslim countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Our concern is that Australia's commitment is the primary source of resentment and frustration that is alienating the Muslim community from other communities.