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AAP
AAP
Max Aldred

Blurred extremist ideologies challenging intervention

In dealing with extremism, authorities now contend with mixed, unclear and unstable ideologies. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Mixed, unclear, and unstable ideologies are defining violent extremism responses by states.

The Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion has investigated radicalisation and fanaticism over the course of the week.

Victoria's Commissioner for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Kelly Mischel, testified states were presented with a changing extremism landscape.

anti-Semitism royal commission.
The Australian National Imams Council president has addressed the anti-Semitism royal commission. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Earlier violent extremism programs had very clearly-defined parameters for ideologies.

Workers are increasingly seeing presentations from individuals with "mixed, unclear and unstable ideologies", Dr Mischel said.

"They're taking parts of different ideologies that generally would have been quite distinct," she said.

"We've had examples where individuals are supportive of parts of ISIS ideology or extremism, and also have elements of neo-Nazi ideology."

WA Deputy Police Commissioner Joanne McCabe told the commission the state's anti-extremism program was increasingly ideology-neutral, and flagged similar mixed extremism concerns.

WA Police are procuring further research into the forms of extremism amongst the state's youth.

"It is very difficult when someone's presenting with a very mixed and unclear ideology to then support them," she said.

"It comes with all sorts of things, including political grievance and government grievance. There could be some religious-based ideology in there, but also some racism."

Shadi Alsuleiman
Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman says comments on the Hamas attack by Ibrahim Dadoun were inappropriate. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Earlier on Friday, Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman said controversial comments made by an imam connected to his council were inappropriate.

The Australian National Imams Council president agreed member Ibrahim Dadoun should not have made the comments one night after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

Sheikh Dadoun had told a crowd at Lakemba, in southwest Sydney, the attacks were an act of resistance, adding: "I'm elated, it's a day of courage, it's a day of pride, it's a day of victory".

At the commission, Sheikh Alsuleiman conceded the comments could be construed as Sheikh Dadoun being elated about the breaching of a border fence by individuals in southern Israel and considered October 7 a justified act of retaliation.

The attacks by terror group Hamas killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 more being taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 69,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel's counteroffensive, according to local health authorities.

Sheikh Alsuleiman, however, defended Sheikh Dadoun's membership with the council.

"Our philosophy is we believe … guiding (imams) through those mistakes and keeping them within the fold of ANIC is a lot more healthy and helpful for the organisation, for the individual and for the community," he said.

"We believe that the comments that (Sheikh Dadoun) made on the eighth of October are inappropriate."

silhouette of a Muslim woman
Shadi Alsuleiman says there should be more approved religious education centres on Australian soil. (Joanna Kordina/AAP PHOTOS)

Sheikh Dadoun's comments in Lakemba drew condemnation from leaders at the time.

Earlier in his evidence, Sheikh Alsuleiman pushed for more approved religious education centres on Australian soil.

No Australian institutions could graduate leaders with the traditional understanding of Islam, he said.

"There are two options: bring imams from overseas, or send Australian Muslims to study overseas, and both have challenges," he said.

He suggested teaching Australian-born imams and female religious leaders at a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency-registered institution would help address a "big gap" in understanding Islam in the Australian cultural context.

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