By SHAUNA ANDERSON
The call is direct and specific.
“Do not ask for anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever, whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling.”
The threat mentions Australia three separate times.
“If you can kill an American or European infidel – especially the spiteful and cursed French – or an Australian or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the infidel fighters … then rely upon God and kill them in any way possible”
And the Government says it is taking it “very very seriously.”
In the first direct threat to Australians Islamic State have issued a fatwa calling for followers to kill Australian citizens.
The chilling threat, issued as an audio file online and translated by SITE intelligence group has circulated on Twitter and social media.
It has called for followers of the terror group to murder civilians in allied countries reports the ABC.
The man who issued the threat, thought to be Islamic State spokesman Muhammad al-Adnani mentions Australia amongst other allies such as the US, France, Europe and Canada.
He says for those who can not find a bomb or a bullet to use a “knife to slaughter or a “rock to bash” a victim to death, “a car to run them down” or “poison to kill them”.
The 11-page statement calls for civilians to die because they belonged to a state waging war against Muslims.
Australians are asked why they are getting involved in Iraq.
“What threat do you pose to the distant place of Australia for it to send its legions towards you?” Adnani says.
Adnani tells his terrorist followers that this was the “final campaign of the Crusaders”.
“It will be broken and defeated, just as all your previous campaigns were broken and defeated,” he said, “except that this time we will raid you thereafter and you will never raid us.
“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah the Exhalted.”
In the recording Adnani who is listed by the US State Department as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ said that Islamic State was ready for a long war that would be fought by its children and grandchildren.
“They will sell your sons as slaves in the slave market.”
Last night Attorney General George Brandis told the ABC that the government considers the statement to be authentic.
“That’s why we have to take the threat of ISIL very seriously because as the Prime Minister has been saying all along, these people have set their face against the west in the most belligerent imaginable way. This is to be taken seriously,” he said.
Terrorism expert Professor Greg Barton told the ABC that this message is very disturbing in its persuasiveness
“It’s quite a game changer – it means IS is now turning its energy outwards and will usurp the role of Al Qaeda, and I think we’re seeing a lot of challenges coming form this.” He said.
The threat comes as the Federal Government announces a new raft of anti terrorism laws expected to be debated in Senate this week and just days after terror raids in Sydney and Brisbane.
The laws are designed to bolster the power of security agencies and to identify, charge and prosecute Australians who have been engaged in terrorist activities overseas.
Top Comments
Absolutely swimming against the tide of fear and paranoia here, but I'm quietly amazed at how effectively the public discourse on this issue has been stage managed. We need to discuss the issue of metadata and phone surveillance. We are being herded towards blindly accepting that the entire Australian population need our internet activities monitored in order to be safe. I strongly disagree.
What is metadata? Simply put, it's the a list of the addresses of every single internet page that you visit.
What can metadata tell those collecting it?
If you download pirated movies or music. I personally don't indulge, but millions do. Odds are good, if you've got a teenager in the family, then your household is illegally downloading. You're possibly doing it for yourself.
Where your naked pics are kept online - with your name and identity attached. Snowden has mentioned that naked pics were frequently passed around the NSA. That would sure be a nice, grubby feeling.
If you're having an extramarital affair via an online introduction agency.
If your teenager is experimenting with drugs and researching how to use them safely online, then your house could be flagged as illegal drug users. Let's hope that no-one in the family wants or holds a job with the police, army or government in general.
I'm sure that everybody can come up with an infinite number of ways that your privacy could be violated.
I have no vested interest, none of the above are issues for me, but I object on principle. Warrants should be obtained for suspect individuals and only their metadata scrutinised. Reduce the burden of proof necessary to obtain a warrant if that's needed, but judicial oversight would be a healthy check and balance on the process.
Australia has had terror threats before, think of the times that travel warnings have been issued. In the past, the specifics of the threats have not been released. The specifics would be suppressed both to protect operational security and to prevent the threats achieving their aim. Terror. The fact that we're now getting the specifics of the threat right on the eve of a vote on surveillance legislation is pretty whiffy. The timing of those raids is also pretty damn convenient given that these guys had been watched for many months.
ISIS don't want Australia to send troops, so they're attempting to undermine the political will to do so via threats of violence. Should we send troops? I'm agnostic on that one. As a humanitarian, I want the rape and murder to stop and justice meted out. As an Australian, I don't believe it's in our best interests to continue to meddle in the Middle East. I felt that way before any terrorist threats.
Anyway, back to metadata - its collection will mean that your ISP will have to install and maintain a huge array of servers to store the data. That cost will be passed on to you. You'll pay to give up your privacy!
So, I feel strongly on this one, but I can see that many don't, whether that's through ignorance, apathy or the fear of terrorist violence; I have no idea. However, if it's the former two, then I suggest you give it some thought and get your opinion out there before it's too late. Metadata surveillance has big implications.
I am truly shocked. Religious extremists making threats against Australia and Australians? I never saw that happening.