Our security services can pinpoint at least a hundred people living in Australia who are so committed to Islamic State ideology that they believe their religion requires them to launch an attack that kills " infidels ". There are probably a greater number of borderline cases who can be pushed into attack mode by firebrand teachers preaching attack as a religious duty. It is simply impossible to closely monitor them all.
One such individual in Melbourne prepared his car as a mobile bomb with fire accelerant and gas cylinders and drove it into the heart of the city. He jumped out and torched the vehicle and began a savage knife attack on innocent bystanders. Sadly, a businessman visiting from interstate rushed to offer aid, thinking the fire was a tragic accident and lost his life as the knife was plunged into his chest. Several others received lesser wounds.
Pictures of this attack made it onto the nightly news and many people were astonished to see armed police and brave citizens fending off the attacker until a shot was fired that brought him down, wounded but not dead. He died later in hospital. This contrasts with the usual prompt police use of firearms to end confrontations that involve a weapon. Other surviving terrorists cost the public purse millions of dollars during the term of their incarceration.
Many with affinity to Islamic State are " known to police " because they have either been stopped from leaving Australia to join the fight in the Middle East, or they have committed law breaches that brought them to police notice. Our justice system offers such people sanctuary, until they commit an actual crime. Should not support for a foreign terrorist organization be in itself a sufficient crime to require close monitoring, the wearing of an electronic identity bracelet and restrictions on the employment that may be permitted ?
Islamic State has openly declared war on the rest of the world which does not adhere to its narrow view of Islam. Moderate Islam is treated as callously as the rest of the world of " unbelievers " and suffers execution in their hands. In such a war situation, are we not entitled to place restrictions on their fifth column residents in this country ?
When someone preaches a call for murder to be committed in the name of their religion, that is not the freedom of religion we cherish. Allowing those who openly pledge their adherence to an organization that condones mass murder, the civil rights of ordinary Australian citizens makes no sense. They are self proclaimed soldiers of an invading army.
Perhaps we are taking that " innocent until proved guilty " mantra too far. When someone claims the right to commit murder because they demand we adhere to their religious requirements they lose the protection of the law. The law that pertains is what the citizens of this country determine it should be and we now face what is a clear threat !
Isn't it time just actively supporting Islamic State became a criminal offence ?
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