LEADING members of the Muslim community have dismissed planned new terror laws, saying they are a response to a trumped-up threat.
A STATEMENT signed by a large number of Muslim sheiks, community leaders, activists and organisations argues there is no evidence to substantiate the threat the federal government says is posed by radicalised Muslims returning from Iraq and Syria.
It comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis set about selling their proposed new terror laws to the Muslim community.
It also comes the same day the Islamic State jihadist group posted a video showing the apparent execution of captured American journalist James Foley.
The government is proposing a range of new terror laws which, among much else, make it an offence to travel to certain locations overseas.
The statement, released to the media and also posted on the Islam in Australia website, says the primary basis of the new laws was a "trumped-up threat" from radicalised Muslims returning from Iraq or Syria.
"There is no solid evidence to substantiate this threat," it says.
