Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 8:22am

Its hard to be a Muslim Australian in Melbourne, on Monday July 11 2011.

First, the Herald Sun and its demanding headline,”Give us our own laws,say Islamic leaders” 11.7.11) http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/give-us-our-own-laws-say-islamic-leaders/story-fn7x8me2-1226091923217

Then came, Today Tonight’s,emotionally charged,”Ruled by Islam’s Laws”.

http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/9822791/none/ruled-islam-laws

Both stories were based on a series of interviews by the Herald Sun with a number of ‘Imams from across Australia’;just who chose these particular Imams,and how ‘representative’ they are, was not reported. Check for yourself the interviews and in particular note Question 6:”Given the debate about Sharia;do you believe that some form of Sharia law would be compatible with the Australian legal system? If so in what context?”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australias-imams-on-osama-tolerance-and-sharia-law/story-e6frf7jo-1226091930167

Here’s their answers; remember the headline of the article,”Give us our own laws say Islamic leaders”

*Sheikh Husain: Gold Coast.”…neither is there a call for Shari’ah law to be implemented here by the vast Muslim majority”.

*Sheik Ramy Najmeddine: West Melb.”I don’t think there is a need for implementing any form of Shari’ah law”

*Sheik Saleem, Board of Imams: “Muslims in Australia are living according to Shari’ah rules like the Jews and Christians live according to their respective religious codes”.

*Sheik Mehtar:WA.”Regarding Shari’ah law I guess at times it is used more to scare non-Muslim Australians and make Australian Muslims look like they are forcing their views….Dialogue needs to take place to gain a good understanding of Shari’ah and what it actually entails….”

*Dr Shabbir Ahmed,NSW: “Yes I do believe that some form of Shari’ah is compatible with the Australian legal system ie the help provided by Centrelink to unemployed and needy people matches with what Shari’ah law says in relation to needy people…”

*Imam Parker, WA:”….The reality is that majority of Muslims did not come from an Arab state and therefore never lived under Shari’ah law.Therefore they live their Islam in a manner that does not contradict the local law”.

*Sheik Weli,Vic:”Shari’ah is a very broad term and includes many things……I think the sensitivity of the name and the negative perception is the issue not the Shari’ah itself….”

Almost anything is worth a headline to confirm prejudice. The questions then include:

*Do we have a responsibility both as Christians and Australian citizens to counter such attacks?

*Should a requirement for all theological training and endorsement of our ministers include an understanding of what it means to be a minister in one of our congregations in multicultural communities?

*Do we have any idea of what we believe about, and/or engage in inter-faith/religious dialogue? Its a despairing thought that most of our members, and I guess, most of our ministers are reading the Herald Sun headlines and getting their info about Australian Muslims from shows like Today Tonight!

Alan Matheson. NB. Next time you get in a discussion on ‘the burqa’, bring up Ex 34:33 http://politicaljesus.com/2011/07/10/dear-australia-moses-wore-a-veil-would-you-target-him/#comment-11631 UCA multi-faith site: http://assembly.uca.org.au/rof/