AUSTRALIA’S navy chief fasted for Ramadan “in solidarity” with Muslims and hosted a dinner for the Grand Mufti at the Australian War Memorial as part of a push to encourage cultural diversity in the armed forces.
Despite his best efforts, however, the Australian Defence Force’s 80,000 personnel includes just 142 full and reservist Muslim members.
“We are giving up our traditions in order to appease a very tiny minority of people,” said former army major Bernard Gaynor, whose commission was terminated last year because of outspoken views and is the Australian Liberty Alliance candidate for Queensland.
“Why does the head of the navy have to pander to this one religion but not make any public noise about any other religion?”
Vice-Admiral Tim Barrett told the dinner in June it was being held to celebrate diversity: “I have fasted today in solidarity with you all, to properly immerse myself in the experience and purpose of Ramadan.”
He wanted “to gain an appreciation of the challenges and rewards Muslims experience” in the “important month”.
Australia’s Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Muhammad, told the gathering, attended by then assistant defence minister Stuart Robert, “we are all united under one flag, the Australian flag, despite all our differences”.
Sheik Mohamadu Nawas Saleem had previously signed a petition in support of radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has argued Anzac Day should not be honoured by Islamic students and called for sharia law in Australia.
The War Memorial event was organised by the Navy’s Islamic Cultural Adviser and told those gathered of the sacrifice of Muslim Z Force commando Lance Sergeant Bin Shalid Ma’Aruff, who died in action in Borneo in 1945.
