Australian cleric criticized for linking Paris to racism
CANBERRA - Australia's most senior Muslim cleric has come under fire from government ministers for linking the Paris attacks to racism and Islamophobia.
The Grand Multi of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, and the Australian National Imams Council issued a statement late Sunday offering their deepest condolences to the families and friends of victims of the coordinated attacks in Paris that claimed at least 129 lives.
The statement says: "These recent incidents highlight the fact that current strategies to deal with the threat of terrorism are not working."
"It is therefore imperative that all causative factors such as racism, Islamophobia, curtailing freedoms through securitization, duplicitous foreign policies and military intervention must be comprehensively addressed."
The statement was widely criticized by lawmakers and media commentators on Tuesday.
