The president of the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), Sheikh Shadi Asuleiman, has described controversial remarks made at a Sydney rally immediately following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel as "inappropriate."

A Call for Responsible Leadership

Giving evidence before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Sheikh Shadi addressed the fallout from an October 8, 2023 demonstration in Lakemba. At that event, Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun—a former ANIC director—told a crowd he was "elated" and described the day as one of "pride" and "victory."

"We believe the comments that Ibrahim Dadoun made on the 8th of October were inappropriate, especially during a time of heightened tension and a time where communities need to come together," Sheikh Shadi testified.

Sheikh Shadi, who also founded the United Muslims of Australia to support community cohesion, explained that ANIC sought an immediate explanation from Dadoun. Instead of expelling him, the council opted for internal counseling and engagement.

"Our philosophy is very strong when it comes to excluding anyone... [exclusion] is unhelpful for the organisation, for the individual and for the community," Sheikh Shadi said. He noted that Dadoun was cooperative, acknowledged the mistake in his language, and issued a public clarification stating he did not celebrate the loss of innocent lives but was referring to the breaching of the Gaza blockade.

Media Scrutiny and Inter-communal Solidarity

The commission examined a joint statement signed by several Muslim organizations, including ANIC, which criticized the media coverage surrounding Dadoun's speech, arguing his words were taken out of context. While Sheikh Shadi acknowledged ANIC supported the "general sentiment" of the statement, he clarified that the council did not draft it.

He also highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to maintain social harmony, referencing meetings held with members of the Jewish community following the tragic Bondi Beach attack. "We stood by them and reiterated many, many times that while this is a targeted attack on the Jewish community, it is an attack on all communities, including the Muslim community," he said.

Rising Youth Referrals and Online Misinformation

The inquiry also heard from Dr. Kelly Mischel, Victoria's inaugural Commissioner for Countering Violent Extremism. Dr. Mischel reported an increase in referrals to state-run intervention programs over the past three years, often spiking alongside major geopolitical events.

Many individuals referred to these programs had been exposed to online misinformation surrounding the Middle East conflict, she said. Dr. Mischel emphasized that voluntary intervention programs are available for children as young as 10 to divert them from potential radicalization.

"If someone could understand the concepts they are engaging with, and are potentially posing a risk in engaging in violence in response to those concepts and beliefs, then they should be eligible for intervention," Dr. Mischel stated, adding that voluntary compliance remains the primary and most successful pathway for these programs.