Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi blames Islamic State's slick propaganda for luring Sydney teens
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VIDEO: Rifi: United front needed to fight radicalisation (ABC News) PHOTO: Dr Jamal Rifi says the Government is not doing enough to counter the propaganda of Islamic State. (ABC) RELATED STORY: Teen Sydney brothers suspected of trying to join Islamic State RELATED STORY: PM outlines moves to revoke foreign fighters' citizenship MAP: Sydney 2000
A Muslim community leader says an attempt by two Sydney boys to head to Syria to fight for Islamic State is proof that not enough is being done to counter the extremist group's slick propaganda.
Customs officials stopped the brothers, aged 16 and 17, at Sydney airport on Friday.
The ABC has revealed the two were carrying extremist material in their luggage and a letter on how to fabricate a cover story to authorities when leaving the country.
They were later released back to their parents.
The Foreign Fighters Act makes it illegal to travel to areas declared as terrorist zones without a specific humanitarian or family purpose.
Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi, who features on the ABC's Australian Story program tonight, said the Government was not doing enough to counter radicalisation.
"The Government announced seven months ago some package for at-risk communities, and so far seven months down the track they haven't done anything to promote the ideas and the program and to support our community in combating such radical ideology," he said.
"What are we doing to prevent these young people from being influenced of such a barbaric ideology? That is the question.
"You can't win this just by military and police operations.
"You also need to put in place a well-thought-of de-radicalisation program and that way we are fighting over young people.
"We're not putting anything in place that is effective and that works. Nothing."
Dozens of Australians are in Syria and Iraq, most of them fighting with Islamic State.
Abdullah Elmir, one teenager from Sydney's south-west, was confirmed to be among them.
"The Government should look at the bigger picture of what's taken place; the issues are not just by legislation or by military solution and intelligence," Dr Rifi said.
"We also need to win the hearts and minds of these young people." Slick propaganda appeals to young Muslim men: Rifi
"We need to form a team, Australia team, where all the players also do their best to counter this radicalisation," he said.
"After all, it is our responsibility because all young boys and girls have been targeted.
"But we can't do it on our own, and we need to have a true dialogue with government and government officials about what is the best way to do it."
He said the teenage boys detained at Sydney airport should be spoken to and counselled to find out why they wanted to join the terror group.
"A group of people, in terms of psychologists, psychiatrists, religious leaders ... a group of professionals who can engage with these young people, trying to understand what makes them ... arrive at such a deadly decision," he said.
"And also to learn what they've gone through, so we can develop some mechanism, so we can prevent other people from going through that." Teens were raised in Australia, Abbott says
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the teenagers intercepted at Sydney airport had been raised in Australia.
"Went to school here, grew up here, envied our values and yet it seems they had succumbed to the allure of the death cult and they were on the verge of doing something terrible," Mr Abbott said on Sunday.
It is believed the teenagers were trying to travel to Turkey - a known entry point for jihadists wanting to enter Syria.
Macquarie University counter-terrorism expert Professor Clive Williams said Australian authorities were not keeping up with the Islamic group's sophisticated online propaganda campaign.
"Clearly a lot of young people are attracted to the notion of going and fighting for Islamic State," Professor Williams said.
"I don't think we've got a counter narrative that matches that of Islamic State at the moment.
"The propaganda, about coming and fighting for establishment of a caliphate ... going back to the roots of Islam, is persuasive to young Muslims who may be unemployed and not have much sense of identity."
PHOTO: The two boys were stopped by officials at Sydney Airport after attempting to travel to Syria via Turkey. (Supplied)
