A note to politicians: Stop blaming an entire race, creed, religion or any other social group for the actions of the radicalised.
Australia's Lebanese Muslim Association President, Samier Dandan, said as much Tuesday when he responded to claims by Australia's own Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
The minister called out Lebanese Australians during parliament on Monday, responding to the wry question "Which group of people, from which country, does the minister believe should not have been allowed into Australia?"
His response was unbelievable. "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."
Dandan issued a public video address: "His [Dutton's] comments reflect on a government unable to reflect on multiculturalism and Indigenous rights, instead revealing its toxic, assimilationist, nationalist agenda," Dandan said.
The impassioned address from the community leader calls out the minister for his rhetoric and for perpetuating a tired stereotype of a people who as Dandan says, "do not need to prove themselves to Australia. We already have."
Topics Racial Justice
