Both sides of federal parliament have united in their condemnation of a violent Islamic protest in Sydney on the weekend.Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan said using children to carry offensive placards was particularly reprehensible.
‘I think the parliament is at one in condemning this behaviour,’ Mr Swan said during question time on Monday.
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop agreed that the violence and intolerance seen as the protesters marched on the US consulate in Sydney were shocking.
Ms Bishop said the protesters were incited by the same video that sparked a fatal attack on the US Consulate in Libya which killed the ambassador.
Six police were injured, along with 17 others, during violent clashes on Saturday when a group of about 200 Muslims protested in Sydney over an anti-Islamist film made in the US.
The anti-Islam YouTube video blamed for inciting both attacks was not produced or endorsed by the US government and had been condemned by American officials, Ms Bishop said.
‘The rioters had no reason whatsoever for seeking to violently target the offices of the US consulate in Sydney,’ she said.
‘Our fear is that extremist elements in Australia and other countries are using this YouTube video to incite hatred and incite violence in pursuit of long-held goals.’
Ms Bishop asked why the federal government had refused to withdraw a visa issued to ‘hate preacher’ Taji Mustafa so he could speak at a conference held by a controversial Islamic group on Sunday.
She said Hizb ut-Tahrir had called for Israel’s military destruction and condoned the killing of Australian troops in Afghanistan.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said Hizb ut-Tahrir was not a banned group in Australia, the US or the UK and thus there was no reason for Mr Mustafa to be refused a visa.
Mr Bowen said in 2007 former attorney-general Philip Ruddock had also publicly stated the group should not be outlawed.
Source: skynews.com