Firebrand Dutch MP Geert Wilders has told supporters in Sydney's west that the ideology of Islam is dangerous, while claiming Australia is seeing an "Islamisation" of its cities.

The far-right politician addressed the Q Society of Australia on Friday night at a function centre in Liverpool on the third leg of his controversial tour of Australia. Protesters gathered outside the venue to voice their anger at the MP's controversial tour.

Many members of the media were blocked from entering the event, despite having being told by the ultra-conservative Q Society group that they would be allowed to attend. However, in an extract of the speech obtained by AAP, Mr Wilders labelled Sydney as "the Australian city where Islamisation has progressed the furthest".

"This city needs to hear the truth about the dangerous ideology of Islam," Mr Wilders said. In the speech he made disparaging remarks about the Koran, the holy book of Islam. He said when some journalists charged him with being intolerant he replies: "I prefer the so-called intolerance of Churchill over the so-called peace of Islam." Mr Wilders called participants in last year's riots in Sydney "al-Qaeda sympathisers", and noted that there were now more than 60 mosques across the city.

About 100 protesters, many carrying anti-Wilders placards, rallied outside the function centre before the start of the speech and chanted: "Muslims are welcome, racists are not." Police officers, including some on horseback, ensured guests invited to the event could make it through the crowd.

Outside the event an anti-Wilders protester addressed the crowd over a loudspeaker. "We have to make sure that these people are hounded if they try to do these things," he said. Thanks for helping brand Geert Wilders what he really is."

One protester, social commentator Antony Loewenstein, said Mr Wilders believed in dividing society. "I think his message of division and hatred against Muslims is exactly the opposite of what Australians should be hearing," Mr Loewenstein told reporters. "It's ignorant and shows a desire to exclude Muslims."

AAP, 22 February 2013

View the Original article

A common belief in the West is that al Qaeda wishes to impose Islam everywhere. This might be a pipe dream for the group, but a new study of their use of religious texts suggests that Islamists' goals are much more modest.

Researchers with Arizona State University's Center for Strategic Communication (CSC) analyzed more than 2,000 items of propaganda from al Qaeda and related Islamist groups from 1998 to 2011. They catalogued more than 1,500 quotes from the Qur'an that extremists used to support their arguments, and identified the chapter (surah) and verse represented in the quote.

Results showed that most of quotes are about enduring hardships and maintaining faith and hope in the face of attacks by enemies of Islam. The so-called "Verse of the Sword" (9:5) that says "fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them" was used only three times.

"We were surprised at the very limited use of the sword verse," said Bennett Furlow, a research assistant and one of three co-authors of the study, "How Islamist Extremists Quote the Qur'an". "Conventional wisdom says Islamists are bent on world domination and this verse is the justification. We found it to be insignificant," he said.

The verses most frequently cited came from three surah, Surah Nine, Surat at-Tawbah ("The Repentance"), Surah Three, Surat al-Imran ("Family of Imran") and Surah Four, Surat an-Nisa ("The Women"). They address enduring hardships and the importance of fighting against the unjust outsiders who oppress men, women and children.

"These findings challenge the idea of a clash of civilizations," said the study's lead author Jeff Halverson, a professor of communication in ASU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in reference to the theory that future wars will be fought over religious identity rather than national boundaries. "What extremists are really saying to Muslims is, 'our communities are under siege and God will defend us if we have faith and courage'."

It is important to be realistic about Islamists' arguments when trying to counter their influence attempts, noted ASU's Herberger Professor and study co-author Steve Corman. "If we try to portray them as evil conquerors when their audience sees them as protectors and champions, it damages our credibility and makes our communication less effective," he said.

The study concludes with four recommendations for the West: 1) abandon claims that Islamist extremists seek world domination; 2) focus on addressing claims of victimization; 3) emphasize alternative means of deliverance; and 4) reveal that the image of "champion" sought by extremists is a false one. Other studies have shown in fact that al Qaeda-linked militants are 38 times more likely to kill a Muslim than a member of another group – hardly the activity of a "competent champion," the ASU study states.

Arizona State University news release, 9 July 2012

View the Original article