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Consultative Structure
Community Relations
Media Analysis
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Case Study Three |
Terrorism raids November 2005
2. The story breaks (reporting period November 9)
Case against the suspects About half of the reports described the raids, identified or described the suspects, and outlined the case against them. Police reported that the arrests had averted “a large-scale terrorist attack”, while the reports stated that the arrests had averted a “catastrophic” and “imminent” attack. The arrested men were identified as followers of “radical Islamic cleric” Abdul Nacer Benbrika. Benbrika’s “praise” for Osama bin Laden was noted in numerous reports, and he was repeatedly identified as the spiritual leader of the “terror cell”. One man was reported as wishing to become Australia’s first suicide bomber and martyr, as “revenge for infidel activities in Iraq”. Others were reported to have trained in terrorist camps overseas. Surveillance recordings were reported to reveal “a constant theme … directed at violent jihad … embracing the notion that it’s permitted … to kill innocent women and children”. The more striking headlines included “Osama’s Aussie offspring”, “Smashing a plot to kill”, “Accused ‘wanted to be suicide bomber’” and “Aussies schooled by al-Qa’ida”. Two articles, in The Age and the Herald Sun, focused on Abdul Nacer Benbrika. The history of Benbrika’s immigration status was revealed, as was the seizure of his passport by ASIO. Details about his clerical teachings were reported, along with personal details about his family. Benbrika’s marginalisation from the mainstream Muslim community was highlighted in both articles. Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam, who vouched for Benbrika in his immigration appeals, described him as “hot-headed” and revealed that they had parted ways as “he thought maybe I’m too lenient”. A third article focused on two Anglo-Australian men who had converted to Islam, and become followers of Benbrika. One, Shane Kent, known as Yasin, was arrested in the raids, while the other, known as Abu Jihad, remained under surveillance. The report detailed the men’s time in an al-Qa’ida training camp overseas and their place in the “network of radical Islamists” in Australia. Islamic community reaction Four articles presented reactions from Islamic community leaders regarding the raids and arrests. The Age published two articles, the first focusing on the arrest of Benbrika. Waleed Aly, from the Islamic Council of Victoria, asserted that “Benbrika’s place in the Muslim community was hard to define because it was so marginal …”. He described Benbrika as a cult leader, with “no more sway over the Muslim community … than any cult leader would have over the religious communities from which they are splintered”. The second article focused on reactions from community leaders, including Mr Aly and Sheikh Fehmi. Mr Aly expressed relief that the raids had resulted in arrests, as this would bring the suspects into the judicial system, where the claims against them could be properly tested and scrutinised. Sheikh Fehmi expressed concerns that the arrests could lead to a backlash, stating that “our duty is to talk to the community, to appease them, to tell them this is only a procedure and no harm has been done …”. Roland Jabbour from the Australian Arabic Council asked the media to be responsible in reporting the arrests, as “ethnicity and religion should not be the focus”. He revealed that many people feared going out into the wider Australian community, as they felt the Arab community was being blamed for the terrorist threat. A spokesman for Sheikh Omran claimed that the arrested men would not receive natural justice in the court system, as “politics has got so involved”. He said the Federal Government was mounting a campaign against Muslims, asserting that “there is a constant feeling of isolating Muslims” in reference to the “children overboard” claim, the hijab debate and calls for Muslims to leave Australia if they want to live under sharia law. The Herald Sun also reported the views of Waleed Aly and Sheikh Fehmi. Mr Aly revealed that “it would sadden me that Muslim people would be doing things that warrant prosecution” but acknowledged that “it’s a matter now of letting justice prevail”. Sheikh Fehmi said his congregation would be praying for the suspects and their families, and for the safety of all Australians. Amjad Ali Mehboob, from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) said the Muslim community was worried about the fallout from the raids: “This is not going to end speculation about the Muslims and the religious and racial profiling of people which we fear from the new terrorism laws.” Abu Yusf, a media spokesman for Sheikh Omran, said that while they hoped the raids had averted a terrorist attack, “these raids have been done in a very public way … and it is destroying people’s lives”. The Australian reported that Muslim leaders were calling for calm among the community as they sought more information about the raids. Ameer Ali, president of AFIC, revealed that members of the Muslim community feared reprisals and had asked for government protection for the community. Sheikh Fehmi’s intention to lead prayers for the suspects was mentioned, while a lawyer acting for the accused asserted that comments made by politicians regarding the arrests could be infringing upon the suspects’ legal rights. Sheikh Zoud refused to comment on the arrests, but some of his followers revealed that they intended to offer help to the families of those arrested. Abdul El Ayoubi, spokesman for the Lebanese Muslim Association, said the organisation had received many calls from members who felt the raids were targeted at Muslims rather than terrorists. Keysar Trad, spokesman for the Islamic Friendship Council, questioned the media presence at the locations of the raided homes. The articles emphasised the worries among the Muslim community and the desire to see the criminal justice system run its course free of political interference. The headlines also reflected this: “Appeals for calm among the faithful” and “Leaders put faith in the courts”. Two articles, in The Age and The Canberra Times, reported the reactions from the neighbours and families of those arrested. Numerous neighbours of one raided family expressed their surprise, saying “they’re kind”, “they’re very good people” and “we’ve never had any problems with them”. The neighbours of another raided family were equally surprised by the arrest. In both cases, neighbours reported that police had been seen undertaking covert surveillance in the street in the months leading up to the raids. While most of the families of the arrested men were avoiding media contact, a few of the women complained about police treatment of their children, who had been woken and rounded up to be watched over by officers while the raids took place. The “terror threat” Three articles provided broader discussion of the terror threat in light of the raids and arrests. The Canberra Times published an analytical piece that reported on the findings published by ASIO in its annual report, and the likelihood of a terrorist attack in Australia. It identified potential threats and possible suspects. This piece also noted that “moderate Muslims have distanced themselves” from anti-Western rhetoric and “have been embraced by the Government in a new advisory group to build bridges with the Islamic community”. The Australian published an opinion piece by the paper’s foreign editor detailing the advantages Australia has in averting terrorist threats and identifying a number of people facing charges under counter-terrorism laws. It provided an international perspective on the terrorist threat and noted the bipartisan support for counter-terrorism legislation in Australia. The Herald Sun published an opinion piece by a columnist who generates regular debate in the paper’s letters to the editor. This piece berated those who questioned the necessity of the PM’s legislative amendment and the proposed counter-terrorism laws. It linked the possibility of a terrorist attack in Australia to protests and riots among Muslim communities in Europe, attacks against Christians in Indonesia, and the social collapse of Muslim societies in the Middle East. It condemned immigration decisions which had “imported preachers of this new Islamist hate” and called for an end to multiculturalism in favour of promoting “true integration”. |
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