When I first arrived at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, I must confess that I was somewhat disappointed. Given the customary brouhaha preceding a Muslim academic’s (or scholar’s) arrival, I’d expected at the very least a picket (even if it consisted solely of the distinguished Ameer Ali). You can imagine my further disappointment when...
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Many residents in the town of Camden, in Sydney’s south west, are enraged that Muslims are supposedly “invading” their rural community, bringing with them all sorts of criminal behaviours and social pathologies. The Sydney Morning Herald reported: The proposed Islamic school for Camden has outraged thousands of residents, some of whom say it would bring...
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The greatest enemy of absurdity is its own voice. It is essential therefore that those with extreme and absurd views be encouraged to speak them as often as possible. Rather than seek to stifle their voice or to remove a platform for their views, one should be provided: Another prescient example of this is Danny...
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The treatment of Dr Haneef has been deeply troubling for many Australians, of all political stripes. I don’t know if Haneef is guilty as charged (or guilty of more) but I hope he is, because if he is innocent then we have witnessed a high-tech public lynching. What has equally surprised me has been the...
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