Muslim leaders angry at long Sydney airport security delay for senior imam

Rasa - Muslim leaders are fuming at what they claim is the unacceptable treatment of a senior cleric by officials at Sydney airport.

News ID: 1249

Date: 27 September 2014 - 17:55

RNA - The imam was said to have been detained on Thursday for two and a half hours by customs officials for a baggage search at Sydney international airport, which caused him to miss his flight. He was on his way to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, and was travelling with a group of Australian pilgrims, the nation reported.

The manner in which the detention occurred was extremely unprofessional, said the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, and leaders of a number of Muslim community organizations. “It is totally unacceptable for any Australian citizen, let alone a senior member of ANIC [Australian National Imams Council], to be subjected to this seemingly random yet profiled manner causing severe stress and unwanted inconvenience,” said Abu Mohammad in a statement today.

The leaders noted a dramatic increase of abuse and discrimination against Muslim Australians in recent weeks, and said a Facebook page had been set up in response. “We call on anyone who may have suffered a hate or bias motivated crime to call and contact the nearest police station and to report it using a special Facebook page that has been set up to register these incidents,” the statement said.

The grand mufti said politicians and the media must not use the raids to inflame hatred of certain segments of the community. The prime minister, Tony Abbott, has also called for tolerance.

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