Radical Sheikh targets Australia in online videos

An extremist Sheikh has targeted Australia in a series of online videos, and attacked local leaders who have spoken out against radicalisation.

Radical Sheikh targets Australia

Source: SBS

British radical Abu Haleema has his sights set on Australia.

The Sheikh has been arrested on terror charges and had his passport confiscated out of fears he would head to Syria.

In his quickly spoken, rap-like preaching, he has praised Parramatta shooter Farhad Jabar - and attacked respected Australian Sheikhs Wesam Charkawi and Shady al Suleiman.

"We're working for what? We're working to make Islam superior and for the end goal,” he declared in one video.

“It's like Sydney needs to be renamed the land of the heretic scholars," he posed in another.

Both videos have gained more than 3,000 views. Abu Haleema’s initial Facebook page garnered more than 7,000 likes before it was pulled late last year.

His messages of hate have seen him banned from British mosques, and censured in Australia.

Silma Ihram from the Australian Muslim Women's Association said he does not reflect the majority of Muslims.

"There are many people who quote from the Bible who don't represent Christianity, and there are many people who quote from the Qu'ran and from the Hadith who don't represent Islam,” she told SBS News.

“Anything can be taken out of context."

Security expert Dr Patrick Walsh from Charles Sturt University explained Abu Haleema's strong social media presence is the latest example of the threat of online radicalisation.

"It's very dangerous because obviously with the advent of social media even since the digital revolution like since the 90s social media has just proliferated into so many mediums," he said.

Silma Ihram acknowledged Abu Haleema isn't the first, nor will he be the last radical preacher to appear online.

She believes the only way to combat those false teachings is by going to the experts directly - in this case, your local Sheikh or Imam.

"The best way to learn about your religion is to improve your character and find people who exemplify the character of The Prophet who don't have messages of hate, who don't have messages of anger," she said.


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2 min read
Published 21 January 2016 6:40pm
Updated 21 January 2016 6:44pm
By Omar Dabbagh


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