Assoc Prof Mohamad Abdalla was invited to present his views on the topic of the radicalization of Muslim youth to Queensland Government officials.
He told his audience that he was speaking to them as “a Muslim who loves his faith and community, an academic who is very familiar with the literature, a leader who knows his community very well, and an Australian who loves this country and its people, and who, since 9/11 has been engaged extensively in building bridges of understanding.”
Prof. Abdullah said, “I spoke with passion about these issues because they affected me as a human being who happens to be an Australian Muslim.”
“To be fair to my community, and having their best interest at heart, I have consulted with them and sought their views during the process of writing this presentation. Therefore, the views that I will express not only reflect my own beliefs and sentiments, but of the community members and leaders that I have consulted.”
He put forward a number of proposals and concluded his speech by saying that violent extremism is caused by a host of factors, which need to be considered collectively in order to arrive at appropriate solutions. “Islam and the Muslim community must not be seen as the problem but an important part of the solution. The community is an important key in the fight against violent extremism and that is why it is crucial to apply a strength based approach to enhancing community resilience, capacity and contribution.”
This approach would ideally include:
- A recognition that Islam and the Muslim community is part of the solution and not the problem
- The community is a valuable partner
- A shift in media and political rhetoric
- The need for a balanced approach to international conflicts
- The importance of adequate educational programs
- Funding for youth Safe Zones
- The need for preventative and rehabilitation programs
