daedong
New member
Have we gone to far, are we paranoid, are we undermining on our freedom of speech. What do you think?
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19758753-5001022,00.html
Hate books banned
By Kelvin Bissett
July 12, 2006
BOOKS of hate found openly on sale in Sydney's Muslim community have been banned after an official finding that they promote suicide operations and violence.
The Classification Review Board found the books Defence of the Muslim Lands and Join the Caravan were so threatening it should be an offence to import them.
The Daily Telegraph revealed the books and other inflammatory material were in Sydney bookshops last July, triggering an outcry over the availability of such inflammatory material in the wake of the London bombings.
The books slapped with a refused classification ruling were found on sale at The Islamic Bookstore at Lakemba during an investigation by The Daily Telegraph that involved an Arabic interpreter.
The Review Board found Defence of the Muslim Lands was "specific and explicit in support for and encouragement of suicide bombing, including details for undertaking such crimes".
The book, originally written to rally support for mujahideen in Bosnia but since republished, carries an explicit endorsement by terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden on its back cover.
The board was also scathing about Join the Caravan, which it described as a "real and genuine call" to specific action to fight for Allah and engage in acts of violence.
"Join the Caravan warrants refused classification because it has the objective purpose of promoting and inciting acts of terrorism against 'disbelievers'. . ." the board noted
Six other books reviewed by the board can continue to be sold.
Among them, The Criminal West, written by an Australian-based Muslim, contains claims Australian police routinely rape girls and authorities conspire to turn Muslim youths into drug addicts.
The board found the book did not promote, condone or incite crime or violence.
"Whilst some may consider that badly-written books containing unsubstantiated and outlandish conspiracy theories should be banned for reasons of good taste, it is a fundamental principle of the National Classification Code that adult Australians should be able to read, hear and see what they want," the board concluded.
Board convenor Maureen Shelley said the opinions of a number of organisations were sought before the rulings, including Mufti Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties.
Muslim Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad said the bookstore involved had voluntarily chosen not to continue selling the books.
He said he believe the board's ruling was influenced by "sensationalism".
"It would have been far better to leave the matter with the understanding that these books would not be marketed in Australia rather than to be on the record as censoring them," Mr Trad said.
Mr Trad said he believed the books did not pose any immediate danger and said inflammatory comments made by radio personalities were more of a concern.
The board ruling followed the AFP visiting the The Daily Telegraph's office to seize the books for their own inquiries.
Hate books banned
By Kelvin Bissett
July 12, 2006
BOOKS of hate found openly on sale in Sydney's Muslim community have been banned after an official finding that they promote suicide operations and violence.
The Classification Review Board found the books Defence of the Muslim Lands and Join the Caravan were so threatening it should be an offence to import them.
The Daily Telegraph revealed the books and other inflammatory material were in Sydney bookshops last July, triggering an outcry over the availability of such inflammatory material in the wake of the London bombings.
The books slapped with a refused classification ruling were found on sale at The Islamic Bookstore at Lakemba during an investigation by The Daily Telegraph that involved an Arabic interpreter.
The Review Board found Defence of the Muslim Lands was "specific and explicit in support for and encouragement of suicide bombing, including details for undertaking such crimes".
The book, originally written to rally support for mujahideen in Bosnia but since republished, carries an explicit endorsement by terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden on its back cover.
The board was also scathing about Join the Caravan, which it described as a "real and genuine call" to specific action to fight for Allah and engage in acts of violence.
"Join the Caravan warrants refused classification because it has the objective purpose of promoting and inciting acts of terrorism against 'disbelievers'. . ." the board noted
Six other books reviewed by the board can continue to be sold.
Among them, The Criminal West, written by an Australian-based Muslim, contains claims Australian police routinely rape girls and authorities conspire to turn Muslim youths into drug addicts.
The board found the book did not promote, condone or incite crime or violence.
"Whilst some may consider that badly-written books containing unsubstantiated and outlandish conspiracy theories should be banned for reasons of good taste, it is a fundamental principle of the National Classification Code that adult Australians should be able to read, hear and see what they want," the board concluded.
Board convenor Maureen Shelley said the opinions of a number of organisations were sought before the rulings, including Mufti Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties.
Muslim Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad said the bookstore involved had voluntarily chosen not to continue selling the books.
He said he believe the board's ruling was influenced by "sensationalism".
"It would have been far better to leave the matter with the understanding that these books would not be marketed in Australia rather than to be on the record as censoring them," Mr Trad said.
Mr Trad said he believed the books did not pose any immediate danger and said inflammatory comments made by radio personalities were more of a concern.
The board ruling followed the AFP visiting the The Daily Telegraph's office to seize the books for their own inquiries.
