The push to ban the burqa only furthers the aims of extremist groups such as Islamic State, angry Muslim groups have told a parliamentary inquiry.
Representatives of the NSW Muslim Legal Network lashed out against the anti-burqa campaign, calling it "very dangerous, hurtful, divisive and inflammatory".
At hearings into the government's new anti-terror laws, Ertunc Yasar Ozen said the Muslim community felt targeted by the national security crackdown.
He took particular exception to proposed restrictions on wearing the burqa in the House of Representatives and Senate, saying it was not the "greatest existential threat to this parliament".
"This feeds into the twin aims of organisations such as ... Islamic State, telling our youth that they don't belong in this country and never will," he told the hearing in Canberra.
"And to the more extreme elements in the broader Australian community who actually feel that Muslim people and Muslim thought is totally incompatible with the Australian way of life."
The Network's Lydia Shelly complained the Islamic community was not consulted about the decision to segregate burqa wearers at parliament, which Prime Minister Tony Abbott has since asked Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to overturn.
The politicisation of Muslim women has led to more physical and verbal attacks on those wearing head or face coverings, Ms Shelly said.
"We've even had prams with children in them kicked," she said.
The Network took exception with a number of provisions in the foreign fighters bill, including the new offence of "advocating" terrorism.
Existing laws against inciting violence could deal with any terror threat, and broadening the term would have a "chilling effect" on free speech, it said.
However, the Australian Crime Commission said the new crime of "advocacy" would be an important tool in clamping down on those who support or encourage groups such as Islamic State.
"I think for a very, very long time there are those who have hidden behind the veil of advocacy whilst allowing more susceptible individuals to commit the actual crime themselves," the commission's Paul Jevtovic told the inquiry.
Share
