Why a mosque has BANNED Peter Dutton from visiting
A Brisbane mosque has made it very clear Peter Dutton is not welcome after his deeply hurtful rhetoric, as a growing number of Muslim organisations distance themselves from federal election grandstanding.
A Brisbane mosque has made it very clear Peter Dutton is not welcome after his deeply hurtful rhetoric, as a growing number of Muslim organisations distance themselves from federal election grandstanding.
Ali Kadri, a spokesperson for Holland Park Mosque and a Labor member, said the Opposition leaders language about the Muslim community had sparked the ban.
His presence would be deeply concerning to our congregation, Mr Kadri told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
Generally we open our doors to all politicians, [but] Mr Dutton has used deeply hurtful words when it comes to migrants, particularly the Muslim community.
When asked which language was of particular concern, Mr Kadri said Mr Dutton blamed the housing crisis on migrants and made comments around downplaying of Islamophobia.
In the housing debate, the focus is squarely on migrants, especially from Mr Dutton. It makes us feel targeted, he said.
Give us equal respect like any other Australian, consider us equal citizens.
In his rhetoric, unfortunately, [this] doesnt come across.
Spokesperson for Holland Park Mosque Ali Kadri (pictured) said a visit from opposition leader Peter Dutton would be deeply concerning to the community
Mr Kadri had told the Courier Mail on Monday that the Opposition leaders divisive rhetoric made a visit to the mosque inconsistent with the communitys values.
The comments followed a statement released by leaders of Al Madinah Masjid in western Sydney after a visit from Mr Dutton on Sunday, clarifying that the meeting was not an endorsement of the Liberal party.
Members had hoped Mr Dutton would address previous critical remarks about some Muslim Australians made during his time as immigration minister in 2016.
When pressed on who he was referring to during a Question Time debate, Mr Dutton pointed the finger at Lebanese-Muslim immigrants.
The advice I have is that out of the last 33 people who have been charged with terrorist-related offences in this country, 22 of those people are from second and third generation Lebanese-Muslim background, he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Duttons office for comment.
On Monday, reporters asked the Opposition leader for his response to concerns about his rhetoric and whether he had plans to publicly apologise.
Leaders of Al Madinah Masjid in western Sydney released a statement after a visit from Peter Dutton on Sunday (pictured) clarifying that the meeting was not an endorsement
People should be able to live in our country, in our society, particularly in the 21st century, peaceful and with freedom, he said.
I dont tolerate attacks on mosques, not on churches, not on temples, not on any place of worship.
People might have differences of opinion about religion, but in our country we respect the points of difference and we need to make sure that people, when theyre going to a place of worship, that theyre able to do so freely.
Asked again whether he would apologise, Mr Dutton dodged the question.
Ive never discriminated against any criminal. Im opposed to all of them, he said.
If somebody is committing an act of violence against somebody, and its religiously based, Im dead against that. Ive been consistent about that my entire career.
And its not just Mr Dutton who has been criticised during a visit to a mosque in the last week.
Worshippers at an Eid prayer event at Dandenong Showgrounds in Melbournes southeast heckled Liberal frontbencher Jason Wood during his visit on Monday
Liberal frontbencher Jason Wood was forced to beat a hasty retreat from an Eid prayer event at the Dandenong Showgrounds in Melbournes southwest on Monday after he was heckled by worshippers.
As Mr Wood left the venue, he was abused by some who filmed the exchange.
Youre not welcome here brother, get out of here, the man behind the camera said.
The Lebanese Muslim Association has also refused any visit from a politician to mosques in Sydney, Adelaide or Queensland.
We feel very much dissatisfied with the lack of attention Gaza has received from politicians, secretary Gamel Kheir told the Courier Mail.
[Not allowing them to our institutions is the] only way we can make it clear to politicians that we feel our voices are not being heard.