Out of Darkness - Came Light !

There is no doubt that the Martin Place siege shocked Australia.   Despite numerous warnings that a terrorist attack was imminent the fact that Man Haron Monis had taken ordinary people captive and was threatening mass murder galvanized the nation.  It ended in a blaze of gunfire - with the gunman and two of our citizens dead.

The aftermath was amazing.  Ordinary people chose to place flowers in Martin Place as a sign of respect for our two murdered victims and for many this recalled the floral tribute that arose in London following the untimely death of Princess Diana.  Some people travelled hours by train to pay their respects and it was noticeable that within the crowds expressing grief there were many bearded men and women wearing the Islamic head scarves.   This was not a clash of religions.  It may have been the turning point here in Australia for many who follow the Islamic faith.

In the past there has been criticism that Muslims remained silent when news of atrocities overseas riled non Muslim Australians.  To many, this was interpreted as silent support for the terrorists and yet it put many Muslims in a difficult position.   They were torn between distaste for the actions of the terrorists and the need to be loyal to their religion, and fearful of the firebrands they must face when they attended prayers at their mosque.

There was a disconnect between the very real war being waged in other parts of the world and the life they were leading here in Australia.  What happened in Martin Place this past week was not something happening "over there "!    The real world had arrived "over here " and they could no longer ignore it.

It probably helped that in Pakistan came news of another sickening attack that repulsed Muslims still reeling from this siege.   Seven al Qaeda gunmen entered a school and systematically slaughtered over a hundred students and their teachers.   This departure from the principles that are part of the Muslim faith is something individuals must face - and it seems that Australian Muslims have at last found their voices.

Of course, all that horror will still be endorsed by the radical element that is intent on preaching jihad and which has a foothold here in Australia, but the wall of silence has been broken.  The jihadists can no longer move openly in Australian society and rely on fellow Muslims to treat what they know with religious loyalty.  Many Muslims came here as asylum seekers and it comes as something of a shock to find that the very conditions they sought to escape in their old country are now knocking on their new door - and has become an unwelcome visitor.

In one of those strange twists of fate, it seems that Man Haron Monis was not a disciple of either Islamic State or al Qaeda.  He was simply a man with a severe personality disorder - hinging on madness - who chose to embrace his religion as the vehicle to deliver terror as he sought fame.  He was both "mad and bad ", judging by the long list of events that brought him to public notice - and which included the alleged murder of his former wife.

The siege in Martin Place changed Australia.  It has removed a barrier that existed between religions that should be able to coexist amicably if each respects the other.