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'Dangerous and divisive': Lebanese community furious at being singled out in leaked government document




'Dangerous and divisive': Lebanese community furious at being singled out in leaked government document

February 5, 2016

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Lebanese Australians have expressed fury over a leaked federal government document that singles them out as prone to extremism, calling it "dangerous and divisive".

Painting one community this way only further isolates and vilifies the Muslim community.

Lebanese Muslim Association

The draft cabinet document obtained by Fairfax Media says Australia's Lebanese community is the "most prominent ethnic group amongst Australian Sunni extremists".

It says the Australian "extremism landscape" has been significantly influenced by the refugee intake, pointing in particular to the Lebanese people who came under the humanitarian program between 1975 and 1990, and subsequent family migration.

Most were from "the poorer and uneducated Lebanese Muslim population", the document says.

"Consequently, this led to the transportation to Australia of a Sunni community which included elements who already held extremist beliefs or who were more highly receptive to extremist messages," it says.

There have been instances of extremist violence within this community although their activities more commonly relate to "the provision of ideological or political support and/or fundraising".

The Lebanese Muslim Association expressed its "utmost disappointment" with the document, condemning the suggestion the Lebanese community is more prone to extremism.

"This language betrays a deep misunderstanding of the Muslim community and the process of radicalisation," the group said in a statement.

Michael Kheirallah, chairperson of the Victorian Lebanese Community Council, said he was shocked the government had singled out one religious group.

"I think 99 per cent of Sunnis are integrated … and the majority reject extremism and terrorism," Dr Kheirallah said.

"These comments will just make the Lebanese community feel more marginalised. This is not going to help with integration. It will make some people feel uncomfortable."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton say they have not see the document, which is marked "Sensitive: Cabinet".

Labor has described the document as "borderline racist".


 














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