Scott Morrison Proposes National Imam Register Amidst Strong Backlash
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has put forth a proposal for a national register and accreditation system for imams, alongside an expansion of foreign interference frameworks to include religious institutions.
Speaking at an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem, Morrison connected these proposed measures to the recent Bondi terror shooting, describing it as "Islamic State-inspired." He emphasized the necessity of focusing on "radicalised extremist Islam," noting that the alleged shooters were "Australian-made."
Morrison stated a focus on "radicalised extremist Islam" was necessary, noting the alleged shooters were "Australian-made."
His recommendations include nationally consistent, self-regulated standards, encompassing recognized accreditation, a national register for public-facing religious roles, clear training and conduct requirements, and an enforceable disciplinary authority. Morrison also suggested strengthening safeguarding protocols, financial accountability, and scrutiny of overseas funding for religious institutions.
Reactions from Islamic Groups
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) swiftly condemned Morrison's remarks as "reckless, deeply offensive and profoundly dangerous." The organization views calls for imam accreditation as a "fundamental attack on religious freedom and equality before the law." AFIC President Dr. Rateb Jneid asserted that such rhetoric fosters division and stated that AFIC "rejects the notion of Islam requiring 'special regulation, surveillance, or state‑imposed oversight.'"
AFIC President Dr. Rateb Jneid stated that such rhetoric creates division and that the organization rejects the notion of Islam requiring "special regulation, surveillance, or state‑imposed oversight."
Federal envoy on Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, stressed that while extremism must be confronted, it should not be used as a pretext to curtail freedoms or cast suspicion on an entire community. He added that conflating criminality with the faith of Australian Muslims undermines trust within the community.
Official and Community Responses
Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, acknowledged that religious freedom comes with responsibility but cautioned against singling out specific communities. He warned that this approach risks racial vilification, pits communities against each other, and can cause people of that faith to feel victimized, potentially feeding extremism.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy described Morrison's idea as "really problematic and troubling," recognizing the Muslim community as "incredibly valued Australians" who were among the first to condemn the Bondi attacks.
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), representing over 300 Muslim leaders, characterized Morrison's claims as "deeply ill-informed" and his call for Islamic teachings to be translated as reflecting "fundamental ignorance," noting existing and utilized translations. ANIC highlighted that law enforcement authorities did not attribute the attacks to any religious community and that no collective blame was placed on a community after the Christchurch mosque attack, a standard that should apply consistently.
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) characterized Morrison's claims as "deeply ill-informed" and his call for Islamic teachings to be translated as reflecting "fundamental ignorance."
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg voiced support for Morrison's comments, stating the Australian Muslim community "has to take some responsibility for the behaviours we’ve seen exhibited over the last couple of decades."
Gamel Kheir, secretary at the Lebanese Muslim Association, emphasized that Islamic extremism should be examined alongside the rise in neo-Nazism in Australia, rejecting the idea of holding the Muslim community solely responsible for global issues.
Morrison maintained that his proposals were not about government control over religion but about "responsibility and accountability," drawing a comparison to the accreditation process for Anglican ministers.