Grand Mufti of Australia Calls For Restraint Amid Escalated Tension Over ISIS Terror Threats

Australian Muslim leaders have called for restraint in the face of ISIS threats in the country. According to ABC, the Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed along with senior Muslim community leaders have condemned the threats to harm Australians.

In the joint statement of Dr Mohammed, Australian National Iman Council's Sheik Yahya Safi and Father Patrick McInerney from the Catholic Church said that Australians should reject the threats calling for their deaths.

They said the ISIS threats have no religious authority and called on the people to exercise common sense. The religious leaders also expressed their concerns over the increase of threats received by churches and mosques.

The threats caused a number of attacks against the Muslim community in Australia. In a press conference, a spokesperson for the community said several women in hijab and their children became the targets of verbal abuse. In one instance, a woman in Sydney was spat on and her baby's pram kicked. In another incident, a man tried to grab a woman's hijab.

The spokesperson said several mosques were threatened and vandalised with a "pig's head impaled on a cross." Since ISIS issued the threat against Australians, a church and Catholic school have become targets of hate crimes, reports said.

Community leaders in Victoria said many Muslims came to Australia for a better life and they are willing to protect the well-being of the country. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Multicultural Affairs Minister Matthew Guy met with Muslim community leaders including Dr Moayad Attar-Bashi who said a great majority of Muslims are honest and law-abiding Australian citizens.

He said Australian-Muslims are part of the country and what's bad for Australia is also bad for them. The statement comes following the escalated tension caused by an 18-year-old suspected terrorist Numan Haider who was shot dead after he stabbed two police officers outside the police station in Endeavour Hills.

Meanwhile, the US continued its aerial attacks in Syria with warplanes bombing a dozen oil refineries that help finance ISIS. According to reports, up to five British jihadists are believed to have died from the airstrikes.