Muslim leaders have condemned Scott Morrison as "reckless" over proposals to impose tighter oversight on Islamic religious roles in Australia.
The former prime minister made the remarks at an antisemitism conference in Israel and in an opinion piece for The Australian newspaper.
"It is time for nationally consistent, self-regulated standards: recognised accreditation for imams, a national register for public-facing religious roles, clear training and conduct requirements, and enforceable disciplinary authority," Morrison wrote in the newspaper on Wednesday.
In his speech overnight, he also called for sermons to be translated into English and for there to be a crackdown on links to foreign Islamist groups.
He told the conference some may characterise his remarks as "hostile to Australia's Islamic community" but believed his suggested reforms would "keep the wolves from the flock".
"After December 14, all options to combat antisemitism must be on the table without fear or favour. This includes how Islam is practised and governed in Australia," he said, referring to the date of the Bondi terror attack last year.
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg backed Morrison's plan and said Australian Muslims need to "take some responsibility" for acts of terrorism.
"Unfortunately, there has been a mutation of Islam in Australia and other Western countries where they have sought to kill other citizens, not just Jewish people, but other citizens," Bragg told ABC radio on Wednesday.
He said religious teachings must not incite violence.
Morrison's remarks undermine social cohesion, Muslim leaders say
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), the peak body representing Muslim leaders, criticised the remarks of both Morrison and Bragg.
"Islamophobia does not require spectacular acts of violence to be harmful," ANIC said in a statement. "The normalisation of stereotypes, pejorative labels, and inflammatory language steadily erodes social trust and undermines social cohesion."
ANIC said Morrison's comments "implying that Islam or Muslims bear responsibility for the recent terrorist attacks at Bondi" were "reckless, irresponsible, and deeply ill-informed".
"We call on former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Senator Bragg, and all political parties and leaders to act with responsibility, restraint, and integrity in their public commentary, and to refrain from using divisive and misleading terms such as 'radical Islam', 'extremist Islam' or other divisive language," the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) said Morrison's comments were "profoundly dangerous" and framed "Muslim communities as objects of suspicion rather than equal citizens".
AFIC said it rejected the premise Islam required "special regulation, surveillance, or state-imposed oversight".
"When senior political figures single out Islam in this way, they legitimise the very hatred they claim to oppose," AFIC president Rateb Jneid said.
And the Islamic Council of Victoria said it was "absurd" to hold the Muslim community accountable for the actions of two gunmen.
"The Australian government does not hold entire communities accountable for acts of violence committed by individuals, and the same standard must apply to Muslims," chief executive Zakaria Wahid said in a statement.
The December 14 terror attack saw two gunmen — who police allege were father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram — open fire near a Hanukkah event at the iconic Sydney beach, killing 15 people.
The Australian Federal Police has alleged that one gunman was inspired by the self-proclaimed Islamic State group. It believes the gunmen acted alone and were not part of a broader terrorist cell.
"We've been very clear these acts were committed by people who believed an extreme perversion of Islam, and to try and hold the entire Islamic community responsible for these acts, I think, is anti-social cohesion," Defence Minister Pat Conroy told ABC radio on Wednesday in response to Morrison's remarks.
"It's incredibly unfair, and it's not a recipe for taking this country forward."
One of the deadliest terror attacks in Australian history prompted parliament to return for two emergency days last week to pass a suite of new reforms.
It included gun law reforms that strengthened background checks and firearms importation rules.
The legislation also bans hate groups and has increased penalties for hate speech.
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