FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5 December  2008

The Queensland Intercultural Society strongly condemns the recent planned terrorist attacks in India . As global citizens, we are face challenging circumstances; however, perhaps more than ever the evil forces of terror are feeding of the blood and violence directed at innocent victims by displaying acts of terror in an attempt to achieve personal gains.

Since 9/11, the anti-terror stance of the QIS has been witnessed widely by the Australian public. The 9/11 tributes and collective prayer sessions organised by the QIS for four years following the New York attacks is testament to the anti-terror lobbying conducted by the QIS. We have strived to educate Muslims and the wider population about terrorism and collectively work towards the elimination of the common enemy. We, as the QIS again declare our stance of absolute condemnation of terrorism in light of the Mumbai attacks.

Terrorism cannot be isolated to any single religion or race. The Mumbai attacks targeted westerners and has been thought to have been executed by Muslim terrorists. It is important to note that amongst the victims are a number of Turkish Muslim tourists. These attacks should not be viewed as being fuelled and stimulated by religion. Followers of all faiths must make it known that religion will never be permitted to be used as a tool to cover the evil intentions of terrorist activity. We again declare that Islam does not, under any circumstances permit terrorist activity. 

 The QIS sincerely sends its condolences to all the victims of terrorism.

We as Australians offer our condolences to all, in particular fellow Australians who have been touched by these cowardly attacks. As conscientious world societies, we must be able to see through the superfluous religious motivations put forward as motives and understand the true driving force behind these ruthless attacks. Different religions have been used to shroud terrorist attacks in history and it seems that Islam in recent times has been targeted. Labelling terrorist attacks as work of a religious group has the undesirable affect of marginalisation. To soften the blow of the attacks on communities, we must break the barriers of ignorance and prejudice through increased social interaction and work towards the common good of mankind as a unified global society.This is the leading principle of the Australian Intercultural Society.

 The objective commentary by the Australian media and government offices and mature evaluation of events by the wider community to isolate Islam from the Mumbai attacks has been extremely well received as a symbol of strengthened social cohesion by Australian Muslims. We commend all Australians for their intelligent analysis of this disaster and invite Muslim and non Muslim religious groups to join us in denouncing all forms of terrorism.