Muslims must fight evil within, following Paris attacks

Every Australian will feel the impact of the slaughter on the streets of Paris. We grieve for the people of France. We must also grieve for a way of life that is under threat as never before.

The French capital has suffered its third terrorist attack within the year. Only this time there were multiple attacks and the number of those killed is much higher – 132 at the time of writing, with more than 350 injured, 80 of them critically. This just a day after 43 were killed in twin blasts in Beirut.

Initial reports from French authorities suggested that eight Islamist terrorists, some wearing suicide belts, were killed by security forces. More assailants could be at large, and more attacks could follow.

French borders were immediately sealed on the orders of President Hollande. Other European borders were sealed earlier this year with the refugee crisis. It looks like the social fabric of Europe is unravelling.

This has been the worst act of violence in France since the end of WW2 and the first time suicide bombers have targeted the country. There is no doubt Friday 13 November has been France’s 9/11.

The attacks were not hard to organize, nor to execute. With some careful planning, jihadists intent upon triggering an apocalyptic climax have moved their strategic frontline to the streets of Paris.

“Europe is at war,” declared US counterterrorism expert Ian Bremer speaking on America’s MSNBC following the appalling news. The supposed ‘clash of civilizations’ feels very real after this dreadful night.

Here in Australia we must not think for one moment that the French tragedy does not affect us. Australian police chiefs have already warned that police are the target of choice for Islamist jihadists.

But the events in Paris tell us in the most stark terms that every member of the public is now a target of choice; whether we are in a restaurant, a bar, or at a music concert.

Sydney-siders have first-hand experience of terrorist attacks, first with the Lindt café siege and then with murder of civilian police accountant Curtis Cheng. There may well be more such attacks on our soil.

Never has there been a more important time for the leaders of Australia’s Muslim communities to step forward and affirm their commitment to forging strong social cohesion in our society.

The key to that cohesion is integration. In other words, every single member of our society has to buy in to Australian values and to our Aussie way of life. Those who don’t like it here are free to leave.

In the past, Islamic leaders have been quick to shift the burden of integrating Muslims on to our shoulders. They have blamed the government, the media, and the public for failing to understand.

Now the burden has shifted. The leaders of Australia’s 500,000 Muslims bear an urgent and weighty responsibility for showing that they are genuinely committed to preserving our Australian way of life.

Australians are an open, welcoming people who embrace the spirit of mateship. We live freely, we live side by side with one another, and we look out for one another in times of need. That time of need is now.

Rev Peter Kurti is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies