Successive waves of immigrants to Australia largely abandoned disputes in their homelands after reaching our shores. Indeed, many immigrants from Europe, Asia and elsewhere specifically came to Australia so that they could escape violence and conflict.
Unfortunately, this inclination to leave troubles behind is not universal. Australia’s Muslim community features a small but troubling minority who actively seek out opportunities to take up arms. It is estimated that more than 100 Australian Muslims, many from NSW, have so far travelled to Syria and joined in the civil war.
Another reminder of local links to the Syrian war came on the weekend with the arrest of a young woman at Sydney International Airport. The 29-year-old, who allegedly was caught attempting to ferry cash and equipment to her husband in Syria, was charged with supporting incursions into a foreign state with the intention of engaging in hostile activities.
These developments are deeply worrying on a number of levels. It is bad enough that Australian citizens are joining, in relatively large numbers, a foreign conflict. Worse still is that they are becoming members of radical Islamic groups, whose extreme doctrines of hatred and intolerance therefore gain a greater hold within Australia’s Muslim community.
The woman’s arrest is the latest in a series of preventive measures taken against potential participants in Syrian violence. Many passports have been withdrawn after investigations. Authorities should examine even more serious tactics, such as the permanent revocation of passports in the case of dual-citizenship holders who join foreign wars. Signing on with terrorist groups in Syria should be a one-way ticket.
Australia doesn’t need any increase in cultural tensions, such as would be guaranteed if the brutal divisions in Syria were to take further root here. A sign of those tensions came following the woman’s arrest on the weekend, when Islamic supporters arrived at Mascot police station to protest.
That protest represents a rejection of Australian laws. Islamic leaders must take action not just to calm their community but to direct younger male Muslims away from violence. A good first step would be pointing out that Australian laws apply across the board.