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Paris attacks anger Perth imam

A Perth imam says his greatest challenge is engaging and educating muslim youth in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Masjid Ibrahim Mosque in WA (Facebook: Shak El-Naqshbandi)
Masjid Ibrahim Mosque (Shak El-Naqshbandi) Source: Facebook

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Source: AAP


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An imam whose Perth mosque was the target of racially motivated attacks earlier this year says he's angered and disappointed by the Paris attacks.

Imam Shabir, from the Masjid Ibrahim Mosque in Perth's south, says engaging and educating youth is the first step in what should be a global effort to prevent future attacks.

"We want to try and get whatever thoughts might be lingering in the back of their minds and what they think the religion is about ... and try and channel that emotion in the right direction," he told AAP.

Imam Shabir said the extremists who carried out attacks on Paris, killing more than 120 people, were doing a great disservice to Islam.

The imam said his community had an open, positive relationship with Justice Minister Michael Keenan, who met with Masjid Ibrahim representatives ahead of the mosque's open day last month.

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Imam Shabir said he was not fearful of racially motivated attacks on the Southern River mosque in the wake of the attacks, despite it being targeted earlier in the year when a mutilated pig was dumped at the entrance.

"I think as long as we work together, make sure our doors are open, make sure our communications are open and clear, I think we have no reason to be fearful," he said.

"We've lived here long enough to know common sense will prevail, humanity will prevail."


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