Police warn against behaviour aimed at Muslims as religious leaders call for Australia Day peace

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/police-warn-against-behaviour-aimed-at-muslims-as-religious-leaders-call-for-australia-day-peace/story-fnj94idh-1227190956676

LAURA NELSON
Gold Coast Sun
January 25, 2015 4:00AM

Gold Coast Islamic leader Imam Imraan Husain.

RELIGIOUS leaders have called for calm on Australia Day and police have warned they will clamp down hard on Gold Coasters who get caught up in any anti-social behaviour aimed at the city’s Muslims.

Their comments follow concern that alcohol-fuelled youth may vent their anger against Muslims on January 26, following terrorist attacks in Paris.

Pastor Erica Nugent, of the 500-strong Pentecostal Surf City Christian Church, appealed to Christians across the city to be true to their faith by showing love to others on Australia Day.

“People will know we are Christians by our love. We must do what Jesus said and love everyone,” she said.

A teenager lies on the ground wrapped in the Australian flag during the Australia Day riots at Burleigh in 2009.

“We are so blessed to live in this beautiful country, which has a wonderful, distinct heritage of mateship. We are one of the only countries in the world which has never had a civil war and that is a heritage to be valued and guarded.”

Gold Coast Islamic leader Imam Imraan Husain, who has publicly condemned the killings in France as “disgusting” and the work of “Muslim thugs bereft of mercy”, called for tolerance at Australia Day celebrations.

Mr Husain, the secretary of the Queensland Imam Council and Imam of the Arundel mosque, said he was working on a joint statement with leaders of other faiths.

“We will be calling for all Gold Coasters to celebrate together peacefully on Australia Day. We are all Australians,” he said.

Gold Coast Islamic leader Imam Imraan Husain has called for tolerance at Australia Day celebrations.

“We are not expecting our (Muslim) community to be victimised but if they are physically or verbally abused, we are asking them to be patient and to show tolerance and forbearance.

“It is their responsibility to act like true Muslims and not retaliate.

“They are not to form vigilantes and we have told them that if they are not happy about something, they should go through the correct legal channels and not take the law in to their own hands.”