Jewish umbrella body supports use of Quran in front bench swearing in
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has congratulated the first Muslim to be appointed to the front bench of the Australian government…and supports the use of the Quran for his swearing in.
Ed Husic
Executive director of the ECAJ Peter Wertheim said: “The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) congratulates Ed Husic MP on his appointments as parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and parliamentary secretary for broadband, to become Australia’s first front-bencher of the Muslim faith
The ECAJ also strongly condemns the inappropriate remarks directed against Ed Husic on social media following his decision to use a Quran at his swearing in ceremony at Government House.
Freedom of religious belief is a central feature of the Australian Constitution. Australian Muslims have been taking the oath on the Quran in Australian courts of law for decades.
The elevation of Mr Husic to the front bench is a wonderful affirmation of the freedoms that underpin our society and the unlimited opportunities enjoyed by Australians of all faiths and backgrounds. There is no place for religious intolerance in our society. We hope that the reaction against Mr Husic, troubling as it is, serves to focus public attention on the values of freedom and tolerance that have made Australia great and which continue to contribute so much to our country.”
Ed Husic also received support from The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. AIJAC Chairman Mark Leibler and executive director Dr. Colin Rubenstein extended their congratulations to Ed Husic on his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary and on his decision to take his Oath of Office on The Quran, while deploring the bigotry and intolerance his elevation has attracted from some quarters.
Adding his hearty “Mazal tov”, AIJAC’s Director of International and of Community Affairs Jeremy Jones said today””Ed is well known to many within the Jewish community in Sydney and is very highly regarded” . “His personal story is both inspiring and a tribute to Australian Multiculturalism and I am disgusted that there are bigots who appear to be blaming Ed’s hard work and great personality for their lack of success and happiness”, Mr Jones added.
I’m in total agreement Anne. It seems the world has become deaf and blind again as to what is happening around the world. WWII we had Hitler and every nation turned their backs on the Jews. Now we have Muslims, they don’t have any tolerance to anyone.
I would encourage all those who are thinking this such a wonderful thing, to actually pick up a Quran and read it. You could also sample a few of the classic Quran commentaries; and Mr Robert Spencer’s “The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran”. And then ask yourself just why, when ‘Mein Kampf’ first appeared on the scene, Winston Churchill (who had had quite a bit of experience with Muslims, and Islam) called it “the new Koran of faith and war”.
I also suggest that those who are so delighted with our ‘first Muslim federal MP’, etc, should – by way of a reality check – read with careful attention the series of excellent and fully-referenced articles that Raymond Ibrahim – Coptic-American scholar, fluent in Arabic – wrote on the subject of Taqiyya, Islamic deception; and an article by one David Bukay, of the University of Haifa, on the subject of “Islam’s Hatred of the Non-Muslim”, discussing the core Islamic principle of ‘al-Wala wal- Bara’, ‘love and hatred’ or ‘loyalty and enmity’. That principle is that “Total allegiance and love are only to be given within the Islamic community, and rejection, hate and enmity against the other is commanded, based on Quranic foundations”. (See Quran, surah 48: 29, “…those who follow him [Muhammad] are ruthless to the unbelievers, but merciful to one another”).
Then ask yourself: how can someone who publicly identifies as a Muslim and is, presumably, aware of this overarching principle, be entirely relied upon by those in Australia who are not Muslim? He may seem very pleasant and nice at the moment; but so have many other Muslims seemed very nice, and sweet, and thoroughly westernised, right up to the moment when something went BANG, or when they were discovered to be plotting to make something go bang.