International news agency AAP writes that the former prime minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, has called for a "hearts and minds" campaign against extremist views within the Islamic faith, saying it needed religious revolution.
"We can't remain in denial about the massive problem within Islam," he wrote in News Corp publications on Wednesday.
"Islam needs to delegitimise the urge to behead all those who insult the Prophet - but only Muslims can do this."
Islam never had its own version of a much-needed reformation or enlightenment period.
"Fortunately there are numerous Muslim leaders who think their faith needs to modernise from the kill-or-be-killed milieu of the Prophet Mohammed."
Mr Abbott said some British and French Muslims felt sympathy for Islamic State, and he decried the "self-excusing rubbish" of local leaders who blamed the extremist group's rise on Western foreign policy.
Australians should stop being apologetic for values which have made their country free, fair and prosperous, because some cultures were not equal.
"We should be ready to proclaim the clear superiority of our culture to one that justifies killing people in the name of God."
Mr Abbott is the most high-profile Liberal to urge for a debate on Islam and terrorism, joining cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg and other MPs who've made similar calls.
Liberal backbencher Angus Taylor said Mr Abbott had made an important point about the battle of ideas.
"The lack of self belief in the West has been a major issue in winning that battle," he told Sky News.
Colleague Craig Kelly said terrorist acts were being committed under a perverted interpretation of Islam and sweeping the issue under the carpet wasn't good enough.
But Labor frontbencher Ed Husic pleaded for social cohesion, begging conservative politicians to think carefully about their words.
Many Australian Muslims were with the broader community as defenders of its values and freedoms.
"We are as one to work against those who want to tear at those liberties," the Muslim MP said.
"Please ... let's do this in a way we lock arms to achieve this rather than pushing people away."
Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale said Mr Abbott was a "very divisive force" and he did not speak for most Australians.
"Tony Abbott should pull his head in," he told Sky News from Paris.
Mr Abbott is set to deliver a similar call in a speech in Singapore where he is expected to urge for greater military efforts in the fight against Islamic State.
Mr Abbott's comments have drawn a wave of criticism
Islamic Council of Victoria president Kuranda Seyit (kur-AN-duh SAY-it) has dismissed the suggestion by the former prime minister that Australian and Muslim values differ.
"It doesn't mean that the values are different. It just means, culturally, there's a difference of approach. So we sometimes misconstrue that 'their values must be different from our values,' but the reality is we all share the same principles of the preservation of life, tolerance and respect to other faiths and communities, and peace. All these things are universal. And I feel very frustrated when I hear people trying to divide our values and their values. This is irresponsible once again, and it's also based on mistruth."
Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian (JIL-yun)Triggs, speaking to the ABC, has warned politicians against making blanket statements about religion.
"It's unfortunate to continue to, in a sense, demoniseIslam and Muslims. We know that they are peaceable, fruitful members of the Australian community who of course accept Australia's values. But there are extreme right-wing groups from the Muslim community where they do support terrorist objectives, and they're a very tiny minority. I think we've got to understand more how they came to be radicalised in the way they have. It's important for Australian security. But I think we've got to be extremely careful before we make blanket assertions about Islam as a religion or the Muslim people in Australia."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull mentioned that Tony Abbott was entitled to his opinion. However in an interview to ABC Radio Mr Turnbull said,
"The one thing we need to be very careful not to do, and I'm sure Tony agrees with this, is play into the hands of our enemies and seek to tag all Muslims with the responsibility for the crimes of a few," Mr Turnbull told ABC radio on Wednesday.
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