From The Age:
PM blamed for Muslim hate attacks
Barney Zwartz, Religion Editor
September 2, 2006THE Prime Minister’s “divisive line” on Muslims was alienating and ostracising the Muslim community, according to one leader.
Sherene Hassan’s comments followed an attack by men with crowbars on two cars belonging to another community leader on Thursday night.
Ms Hassan, an executive committee member of the Islamic Council of Victoria, said the council had received more abusive and threatening emails this week than at any time since the Cronulla riots.
One read: “F–k off back to where you came from and rape the women there.”
She blamed John Howard’s radio comments on Thursday, in which he urged Muslims to learn Australian values. The emails have been referred to Australian Federal Police.
The vandalised cars belonged to the council’s past president, Yasser Soliman, who said the attacks were being investigated by local and federal police and ASIO.
He said a carload of men pulled up about midnight at his house in a northern suburb of Melbourne. Neighbours gave descriptions of three or four men. The attacks were not discovered until his wife went to take the children to school in the morning. “She got the shock of her life,” he said.
“We have no idea why. There was no graffiti or messages. The message is, ‘We know where you live and we can easily do something beyond that.’ ”
Mr Soliman said media groups and politicians were “generating hysteria”.
Of Mr Howard’s comments, Ms Hassan said: “It is unfortunate that he’s taking such a divisive line … If Muslims are constantly being singled out by politicians, all it achieves is alienation and ostracism in the Muslim community.”
