Imams must do more against terror: PM

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reiterated his call for Muslim Community leaders to do more to combat Islamic extremism.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott has reiterated his call for Muslim leaders to do more to combat Islamic extremism. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he is thrilled more Australian Muslims are speaking out against extremism, but has reiterated his call for Islamic community leaders to do more to combat racial and religious hate speech.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said many Muslim leaders in Australia were speaking out strongly against Islamic extremism.

"I am thrilled to see what is happening but I am making the point that if you are here in Australia you have to be part of our team," Mr Abbott told Network Nine.

"You have to take the pledges that you make in those citizenship ceremonies seriously."

Asked if some in the Muslim community were not doing the right thing, Mr Abbott said there were still those preaching "death to those who insult the prophet".

"When we are seeing the kind of anti-Jewish statements that we get from time to time, I think it is important that we indicate as a government, as a community, as a legal system, that there is no place for inciting racial and religious vilification in our society," Mr Abbott added.

The comments come after the prime minister made his first national security statement in Canberra on Monday.

In it, Mr Abbott warned the threat from terrorism at home and abroad was now much greater and becoming harder to combat.

He also said the nation must confront a growing threat from home-grown extremism, and flagged a crackdown on dual citizens involved in terrorism and "hate preachers" such as Hizb ut-Tahrir.


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Source: AAP


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