LET’S TALK TERROR
Gold Coast Islamic school joins fight against extremists
THE Gold Coast’s only Islamic college has stepped up its efforts to fight the radicalisation of its students.
In an exclusive interview with the Bulletin, head of campus Imam Mohammed Azhari reveals: • Teachers were being counselled to identify at-risk students; • Children were banned from carrying or using mobile phones while on campus; • The college wants to be part of the Federal Government’s discussion on youth intervention methods. “We want our kids to be safe,” he said.
THE Gold Coast’s only Islamic college has stepped up its efforts to fight the radicalisation of its students.
In an exclusive interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin, head of campus Imam Mohammed Azhari also revealed:
• Children were banned from carrying or using mobile phones while on campus;
• Teachers were being counselled to identify at-risk students;
• The college wants to be part of Education Minister Christopher Pyne’s discussion on youth intervention methods.
“We want our kids to be safe,” Mr Azhari said.
“The concerns posed about radicalisation on Facebook and social media are something we have had the conversation with students about.
“And the conversation I would like to have with the minister (Mr Pyne) is that it is great radicalisation is being looked into ... but what we want is a balanced approach.”
Islamic State, an extremist terrorist organisation which now controls vast tracts of Syria and Iraq, has a well-oiled social media presence which it uses to recruit young and impressionable minds across the world using social media.
The Abbott Government has committed more than $22 million to combat extremist terror propaganda this financial year and is pushing ahead with plans to teach students and educators how to avoid “ideologies of hate”.
Mr Azhari applauded the initiatives but urged for a broader focus on all types of extremist behaviour as part of a “holistic” approach.
The independent school does not fall under the government-run education system but Mr Azhari told the Bulletin his students had already discussed the issue.
On Friday, Mr Pyne met with state education ministers in Brisbane and said Australia was a step closer to a co-ordinated approach to protect children from terrorist groups.
A spokesman for the minister said it was the first step to find out what was currently
The concerns posed about radicalisation on Facebook and social media are something we have had the conversation with students about
being done and “appropriate consultation” with key people would be considered.
“Education ministers agreed that senior officials will collate current initiatives that support youth at risk of radicalisation and identify gaps in prevention,” he said.
Mr Hazari said the Government approach must be a “balanced, fair and credible process in wanting to identify certain elements in the community ... the same would have to be for the Ku Klux Klan, bikies and other Nazi ideologies”.
“We want our kids to be able to look out for these as well.”
The Carrara-based Australian Islamic College opened in 2010 after a development battle with the council. It now has more than 110 students, including non-Muslims.
Mr Azhari said his faculty has emphasised having open communication with the students, parents and community and that radicalised elements had little sympathy or support.
“There are no conversations about ISIS, it is so removed (from our community) but at the same time it is ingrained in our kids that this is wrong,” he said. “In the Muslim community
I am not going to say it
IMAM MOHAMMED AZHARI
does not exist but in remote corners there are people like (Sydney siege perpetrator) Man Haron Monis who had no affiliation with anyone and was a real whack job.”
In the past 18 months, two young Gold Coast residents have been ensnared in the Middle East conflict.
Former St Hilda’s student Amira Karroum was killed by Syrian Government forces fighting for al-Qaeda in Syria in 2014. Last month it was revealed former Coombabah student Oliver Bridgeman had travelled to the Middle East to join al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group the Al-Nusra Front.