A Muslim leader has slammed a talkback radio host for suggesting there's a link between radical Islam and terrorism.
Melbourne radio 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell had suggested an extreme interpretation of Islam had inspired Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali's Friday afternoon knife rampage on Bourke Street.
'I certainly wouldn't connect it to Islam. But radical Islam, yes. Obviously,' Mitchell told his listeners.
Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman took exception to that statement.
'The problem is Neil, when you call it radical Islam, you're basically saying that the religion of Islam, there are different versions and there is one particular version that we all have a problem with,' he said this week.
'I don't accept that premise. Islam as a religion cannot be associated with these forms of criminal acts.'
Mr Salman, who is also the Sunni-dominated group's media spokesman, also suggested it was wrong to draw a link between Islam and ISIS, after Mitchell claimed 'radical Christianity' was linked to a 'perversion' of religion.
'The religion of Islam cannot be connected with any form of violent acts,' Mr Salman said.
'That is just a nonsense from our perspective. [Daily Mail] Read more
