community ‘too lax’ on jihad risk

THE Muslim community has failed to grasp the serious threat posed by young men travelling to the battlefields of Syria and has become “passive” in the face of a growing problem, one of Australia’s top police officers has warned.

The head of the NSW Counter Terrorism Squad, Assistant Commissioner Peter Dein, has issued a rare rebuke to senior members of the Sunni Muslim community, saying they have not done enough to discourage young Muslim men from joining the Syrian jihad.

With the number of extremists travelling to Syria believed to be escalating, Mr Dein said the Muslim community had failed to grasp the serious threat posed by returning fighters.

“The community is being very passive about the problem,’’ Mr Dein told The Australian. “They’re not openly discouraging fellow community members from travelling. There are some that do, but some community spokespeople who are well respected are not necessarily taking an active role in trying to convince the community not to travel and get involved.’’

More than 150 Australians are believed to be actively involved in the conflict in Syria. Almost all are fighting with one of two rebel jihadist groups: Jabhat al Nusra or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Both are banned terror groups.

Authorities worry that when the conflict ends, they will face a wave of trained, battle-hardened extremists, some of whom could attempt to strike at targets here in Australia.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/muslim-community-too-lax-on-jihad-risk/story-e6frg8yo-1226935154168#