The Australian National Imams Council is among a number of Muslim organisations accusing Prime Minister Scott Morrison of politicising Friday's Bourke Street attack that left one man dead and two others injured.
The Council called the attack a national tragedy but said it was "outraged" by the Prime Minister's recent comments linking Islam to a radical and dangerous ideology.
"It is extremely disappointing in such difficult times and during a national tragedy, when all Australians of all faiths and backgrounds should be called upon to unite and stand together against any form of extremism and violence, to see our nation's leader politicising this incident and using it for political gain," a statement released on Sunday said.
.... Mr Morrison said while he supported religious freedom, religious extremism must be called out.
"Radical, violent, extremist Islam that opposes our very way of life," he said in a speech on Saturday.
"Religious extremism takes many forms around the world and no religion is immune from it.
"But here in Australia, we would be kidding ourselves if we did not call out the fact that the greatest threat of religious extremism in this country is the radical and dangerous ideology of extremists." [SBS News] Read more
