Tony Abbott’s Troubled Relation With Australian Muslim Community ‘No Help’: Report

A new report reveals that Australians fighting for Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq pose a "serious national security threat." The report, however, says that the Australian government can help lower the risk of potential attacks.

The Lowy Institute for International Policy report says foreign fighters coming back to Australia can be deradicalised with programs helping them. It also says that such programs are more effective than jailing the radicalised Australians.

Around 20 Australians fighting for militant forces in the Middle East are reported to have been killed so far. Around 90 Australian nationals are believed to have left the country and moved to conflict zones to fight for extremist forces.

The Lowy Institute reports mentions that the Tony Abbott government has “troubled relations” with the Australian Muslim community. The strained relation is an obstacle to countering home grown extremism, the report says.

Monash University researcher Andrew Zammit says in the report that a wide-ranging counter-terrorist response that includes non-coercive measures is required for returning fighters. He adds that Australia may like to learn a few lessons from its European counterparts on how to counter terrorism at home.

"Returnees from Syria have already engaged in terrorist plots in Europe, and the large number of Australians involved with groups such as IS (Islamic State) and Jabhat al-Nusra raises well-founded fears of an increased threat at home," the report says, "The poor consultation by the government with the Muslim community on much of Australia's new counter-terrorism legislation as well as the Prime Minister's (Tony Abbott) claim that Muslim leaders are not doing enough to speak out against radical ideas have undermined the prospects for effective co-operation." The report was released on Thursday, Apr. 16.

The report says that returned foreign fighters have been involved in many of the most serious extremist plots in Western countries like Australia. The report hails Australia’s countering violent extremism programs like “Living Safe Together” initiative.

The Abbott government raised the national security level to “high” in September 2014. The issue of Australian nationals fighting for radical forces overseas was designated to be the “number-one national security priority.”

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au