Australians Held Hostage today by an Islamic group

[Jayhawker Soule]

#illridewithyou

… Lets wish for the best out-come, I would not like to be Muslim in Sydney if people get killed.

… It's scary for everyone, including Muslims, I'm sure. They get abused whenever these things happen.

I was really pleased to read the following article in Haaretz:

More than 40 Australian Muslim groups condemn Sydney siege
Muslim organizations say they reject any attempt to take innocent lives; #illridewithyou hashtag, in support of Australian Muslims, goes viral.

More than 40 Australian Muslim groups on Monday condemned the siegetaking place at a Sydney café where hostages are being held by an assailant displaying an Islamic flag.

"We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instill fear and terror into their hearts," the Muslim officials said in a statement, according to AFP.

The hostage-taker hung a black flag in the window of the Lindt café that reads "There is no God but Allah; Mohammed is his messenger."

The Muslim groups said the inscription has been misappropriated by misguided people who don’t represent the true character of Islam. That phrase "is not representative of a political statement, but reaffirms a testimony of faith that has been misappropriated by misguided individuals that represent no-one but themselves," AFP reported.

"Any such despicable act only serves to play into the agendas of those who seek to destroy the goodwill of the people of Australia and to further damage and ridicule the religion of Islam and Australian Muslims throughout this country," the Muslim groups' statement added.

The Muslim groups said their thoughts go out to the hostages and their loved ones, and that they are praying for the incident to end quickly and peacefully.

Meanwhile, amid the hostage crisis, Australians have taken to Twitter to rally around the local Muslim community and express solidarity with its members.

To counter anti-Muslim sentiments, one Twitter user who goes by the handle @SirTessa, who posted, "If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule."

Hundreds of Australians followed suit, posting tweets with the hashtag #illridewithyou, offering to escort local Muslims who fear backlash due to the siege situation. The hashtag was the top trending hashtag, surpassing #sydneysiege, in Australia.

Let's hope this all goes well.

 

[FearGod]

Sydney hostages: Sydney gunman identified as Iranian.
BBC News - Sydney hostages: Sydney gunman identified as Iranian

Found to be a criminal Iranian refugee acting by himself and Iranians actually hate
the ISIS because they are Sunnis whereas Iranians are Shiites.

 

[Gharib]

Wow, it turns out it's the biggest scum bag who's behind all this. This guy is a clown that should have been fed to the lions years ago.

I do blame the authorities though. See, if someone falsely claims to be something they aren't, say a doctor, or a lawyer etc and goes on beyond just making a claim by actually opening a medical centre or a law firm, he would get punished for it. But why didn't it happen when he claimed to be an Imam/Scholar and "taught" people? There is more harm done impersonating a Scholar than a lawyer or doctor. He is a sham, a fraud and he should have been punished for it as he never had any qualification.

 

[Gharib]

Sydney hostages: Sydney gunman identified as Iranian.
BBC News - Sydney hostages: Sydney gunman identified as Iranian

Found to be a criminal Iranian refugee acting by himself and Iranians actually hate
the ISIS because they are Sunnis whereas Iranians are Shiites.

That's incorrect. It's like those people who go for the 'Muslim' part and ignore that criminals come from all walks of life. He is Australian. He doesn't live in Iran, he has Australian citizenship (I suspect) so he is Australian.

Funny how the media branded him an extremist Muslim, then an Iranian, but not that which he really is, an Australian.

 

[Nada]

Australian hostage taker named as Iranian refugee with criminal past - Yahoo News

It is over! It all just unfolded live on television just now..

 

[Wirey]

Three dead. Two hostages and the scumball.

 

[oldbadger]

The BBC has reported that this killer was on bail to answer for allegations of some sexual offences.

 

[Madhuri]

That's incorrect. It's like those people who go for the 'Muslim' part and ignore that criminals come from all walks of life. He is Australian. He doesn't live in Iran, he has Australian citizenship (I suspect) so he is Australian.

Funny how the media branded him an extremist Muslim, then an Iranian, but not that which he really is, an Australian.

I haven't found any sources saying he was a citizen, just an Iranian given political asylum.
I don't think it's weird that he was branded as an extremist Muslim, seeing as that is what he was.

 

[dgirl1986]

When this was going on I was hearing there were 9 hostages but it seems the number was unknown.

Police were forced to go in when they heard gun shots. 2 dead and meany injured. It seemed the shooter worked there and was acting on his own accord with no affiliation to a specific islamic organisation.

 

[dgirl1986]

I haven't found any sources saying he was a citizen, just an Iranian given political asylum.
I don't think it's weird that he was branded as an extremist Muslim, seeing as that is what he was.

I hope the ignorant portion of our nation, of which there are many people, dont take it out on all muslims.

 

[Madhuri]

I hope the ignorant portion of our nation, of which there are many people, take it out on all muslims.

I assume you mean 'don't' take it out on all Muslims

 

[dgirl1986]

I assume you mean 'don't' take it out on all Muslims

For the love of zeus. Thanks for point that out. I do that ALL THE TIME.

 

[Treks]

It is unfortunate that happens, but there can be a lot of ignorant people out there, even the Sikh community gets targeted sometimes just because they have a "Turban", and "Beard", but i think generally the majority of Sydney people will handle it in a civilized manner.

The National Sikh Council of Australia has issued a Press Release related to this threat:

National Sikh Council of Australia Inc
170- Ninth Avenue Austral N.S.W 2179
(Inc No: INC9877869)
Voice of the Sikhs in Australia
President: Ajmer Singh Gill JP
Secretary: Bawa Singh Jagdev OAM JP

Press Release

The National Sikh Council of Australia (NSCA) condemns the siege at Martin Place Sydney in the strongest terms. We feel for the innocent hostages whose basic human rights were violated and are saddened by the unnecessary loss of life. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have so tragically lost their lives and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We commend the NSW government and police for their swift and professional response and the Australian government for their total support. We appreciate the Australian community for maintaining a positive attitude during this difficult time.

While great strides have been made by NSCA to explain the Sikh identity, many Sikhs still look over their shoulder when in public places. As a result of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Sikhs all over the world had become targets of mistaken identity with the Taliban and many Sikhs were attacked and killed. Once again the siege in Sydney has sparked fear across the Sikh community and created a situation where turban wearing Sikhs may well become targets of hatred due to mistaken identity.

The turban is the external identity of a Sikh. This confuses some ignorant people, who compare Australian Sikhs with the images in media that specifically relate to terrorists that may wear turbans. These ignorant people then perpetrate hate crimes, harassment, bullying and reprisal attacks; including attacks on places of worship. We should learn from similar incidents in the US and UK as the same degree of public awareness is required to build stronger community relationships through all forms of media for such crimes go against our spirit of multiculturalism and have the potential to divide the Australian community.

NSCA urges the Sikh Community to be vigilant of the possibility of such attacks. Please seek help from the Police and inform the NSCA throughwww.facebook.com/sikhcouncil or [email protected].

Ajmer Singh Gill
[email protected]
For and on behalf of the National Sikh Council of Australia

 

[Gharib]

I haven't found any sources saying he was a citizen, just an Iranian given political asylum.
I don't think it's weird that he was branded as an extremist Muslim, seeing as that is what he was.

Yes but the point is if someone who is a Muslim does something, all of a sudden his religious affiliation is the single most important thing about him.

Take this same guy when his ex-wife was killed. Headlines were "Muslim Cleric/Sheikh related to wife's murder". It's all about being a Muslim.

If a non-Muslim does something be it murder, rape, school shooting, he gets labeled as mentally disturbed. His religious affiliation suddenly doesn't matter like that of a Muslim criminal. And there are criminals of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life regardless of skin colour, ethnic background, religious beliefs etc.

 

[Gharib]

It's disgusting how Muslims get targeted (and Sikh by mistake) because a criminal is/was a Muslim. If a white non-Muslim commits a crime tomorrow I think I'm gonna start targeting all these white non-Muslim extremists. They're all the same just like all Muslims are the same.

And the Martin Place siege has nothing to do with Islam. It's just an idiot wanting attention and to speak to the PM waving the Islamic flag. If someone commits a crime tomorrow waving the Aussie flag I'll be sure to target all Aussies as they all are extremists for associating themselves with the flag of Australia.

 

[psychoslice]

I feel that Muslims need to get their finger out and be much more out spoken about these low life's.

 

[Gharib]

I feel that Muslims need to get their finger out and be much more out spoken about these low life's.

We are, we do speak, we do explain but there's no $$$ in that for the media so no one hears about it.

Same with ISIL. over 125 Scholars from around the world who hold high authority in their countries signed a letter denouncing ISIL, hardly any western/non-Islamic news outlet mentioned it.

 

[FearGod]

I see it as a stupid drama, just propaganda

And thus We placed in every city greatest (of) its criminals, so that they plot therein. And not they plot except against themselves and not they perceive.6:123

 

[Madhuri]

Yes but the point is if someone who is a Muslim does something, all of a sudden his religious affiliation is the single most important thing about him.

Take this same guy when his ex-wife was killed. Headlines were "Muslim Cleric/Sheikh related to wife's murder". It's all about being a Muslim.

If a non-Muslim does something be it murder, rape, school shooting, he gets labeled as mentally disturbed. His religious affiliation suddenly doesn't matter like that of a Muslim criminal. And there are criminals of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life regardless of skin colour, ethnic background, religious beliefs etc.

That is true and it's a good point except that in this particular situation it may be relevant as the man's religion seems to be his motivation.

 

[psychoslice]

We are, we do speak, we do explain but there's no $$$ in that for the media so no one hears about it.

Same with ISIL. over 125 Scholars from around the world who hold high authority in their countries signed a letter denouncing ISIL, hardly any western/non-Islamic news outlet mentioned it.

Well I haven't hardly heard any one protesting, get out there and be more out spoken, people are so paranoid about your religion, is that how you like it ?.