Avoid YouTube preachers: Muslim leaders

Queensland Islamic leaders are concerned that youth centres may not be inviting the right people to speak to young Muslims.

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Queensland Muslim leaders have urged youths to avoid listening to YouTube preachers on Islam. (AAP)

Youths should avoid listening to anyone who speaks about Islam on YouTube, Queensland Muslim leaders say.

Islamic Council of Queensland president Mohammed Yusuf says Islamic youth centres, which give a forum to fiery preachers, are not affiliated with official mosques.

"It is very difficult to keep track of what's going on because they operate on their own," he told AAP.

Uzair Akbar, an imam at Holland Park in Brisbane's south, said it was harder for youth centres to check out speakers than it was for mosques, especially those from YouTube.

"A lot of people have the gift of the gab, they can speak, but religion is not only about speaking," he told AAP.

"We don't want speakers coming that the youth have seen on YouTube because we don't know who they really are.

"There is a possibility that the message they pass on may not be the right message."

Mr Yusuf urged younger Muslims to join a mosque.

"You can't just read our holy books, you need to be part of a mosque, so you can talk about your faith and be part of a wider community," he said.

Imam Akbar said mosques were open to helping youth centres do checks on potential speakers.


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Avoid YouTube preachers: Muslim leaders | SBS News