Qld Muslims are being terrorised: Council

Islamic leaders say police aren't doing enough to stop the intimidation of Muslims, after a group went to a Brisbane mosque and called a teenager a terrorist.

The sign to Kuraby mosque.

Islamic leaders say police aren't doing enough to stop the intimidation of Muslims. (AAP) Source: AAP

Islamic leaders say Queensland police aren't doing enough to stop a campaign of religious intimidation after a group of men went to a Brisbane mosque and told a teenager he was a terrorist.

The Islamic Council of Queensland says four men claiming to be with the media entered the Kuraby mosque at midday on Wednesday, asking to film inside, but then began hurling abuse and expletives at worshippers.

It says a second mosque at Darra was targeted later, but the group didn't get past the closed front gate.

Council spokesman Ali Kadri says religious leaders will meet on Thursday night to discuss what he says is the routine abuse Queensland Muslims suffer because of their faith.

"Our community is terrorised by these people," Mr Kadri has told AAP.

"The fact that they are targeting the most vulnerable, a 15-year-old, a 65-year-old and a female out on her own, these kinds of things show you how the intention is to terrorise Muslims."

Mr Kadri says what happened at Kuraby wasn't unusual, and there appeared to be a group of people going into mosques with the intention of baiting worshippers and then capturing their angry responses on camera.

"They go into a mosque and they film and rile up Muslims and if somebody was to respond they record a Muslim getting angry," he said.

"If we don't let them film they say 'these people have something to hide'. The only way we win is to engage and are able to take their abuse."

Mr Kadri said the group that went to the Kuraby mosque on Wednesday told a 15-year-old boy: "You don't belong in this country, you bloody terrorist, and we should burn this place down to the ground."

Queensland Police were called to the mosque but say they cannot investigate the incident further without a formal complaint.

But Mr Kadri said police had what they needed to pursue the matter.

"What more of a complaint can be made than the fact police came in yesterday and took statements?" Mr Kadri said.

He said authorities were not taking the intimidation campaign seriously and said existing laws didn't offer enough protection for victims of religious hatred.

"I want to take action against the police's inaction and if I have to protest outside the police headquarters I will do so because police are not taking this seriously.

"We will sit there until we get a response on why police don't take these matters as seriously as they should."

AAP has sought additional comment from police.



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By Ismail Kayhan
Source: AAP


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