Australian Muslims fear ban on IS symbols may target ordinary people

CANBERRA, Australia – Australian Muslim organizations have expressed fears that a bill to ban the insignia of the ISIS /Daesh terror group may land ordinary Muslims into trouble. 

They said authorities can misinterpret Muslim religious signs with ISIS symbols.

They fear that local authorities may not be able to distinguish between the inscriptions on the Daesh flag and Quranic verses.

They apprehend that this misinterpretation can land ordinary Muslims in trouble.

The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) said the Daesh terrorist group has been a scourge for the Muslim community.

“There is a whole bunch of everyday religious material that is so sacred to us as Muslims, which may be confused by police and by other members of the public,” AMAN policy advisor Rita Jabri Markwell told SBS News.

However, they fear that police may confuse religious material and harass ordinary Muslims.

Australia has proposed a bill that would criminalize the public display and trafficking of banned symbols.

These include Nazi symbols and the so-called Daesh/ISIS flag symbol.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said Wednesday the bill aims to combat harassment and vilification of certain communities in Australia. 

“The bill aims to combat harassment and vilification of specific communities in Australia, including those targeted by Nazi, neo-Nazi, and Islamic State supporters through public display offenses,” he said in a statement.

He said the government recognizes the distinction between the terrorist organization and the respected Islamic faith in Australia’s multicultural society.

In March, the ruling Labor Party rejected an attempt by the Coalition to ban Nazi signs.

It argued this would allow police to target innocent people.