George Christensen uses Vegemite to suggest halal products are funding terrorism and sharia

And Muslim denials mean nothing.  Lies are allowed in their religion

A National Party MP who pushed for the burqa ban in Parliament has taken aim at halal food, suggesting money spent on certifying it may be funding terrorism and efforts to implement sharia.

Coaltion backbencher George Christensen said all products certified as halal, including Vegemite, should be labelled as such - so people can avoid buying them.

"It's lovely to know a jar of the salty black stuff is sponsoring the advocacy of robbing women of all of their marital property rights," Mr Christensen wrote.

"To be frank, I find it outrageous that some of my grocery spending could go to propagating a religion," Mr Christensen said in a blog post.

"I don't know whether my grocery spend is going to fund extremist versions of that religion or extremist religious activities that I would rather not see in Australia."

While the initial comments of his blog were supportive, on social media they were mostly met with derision, where some users suggested they did not want their tax money going towards funding Tony Abbott's religious chaplains program either.

Two weeks ago, South Australian dairy producer Fleurieu Milk and Yoghurt Company was forced drop its halal certification after receiving threats on social media. As a consequence, it's believed the company lost a $50,000 contact with Emirates.

Mr Christensen said the lack of information about halal certification was causing confusion and concern about where the money spent on it was going.

"While it's not terrorism, there is no doubt that halal certification is funding organisations with extremist views and activities in Australia.  [The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils], which is responsible for halal-certifying Vegemite, have publicly advocated for sharia to play a role in family law determinations.

"It's well-known that halal certifiers contribute to Islamic charity groups," Mr Christensen wrote, citing an Australian Institute of Criminology report on US charities.

"Direct links to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood were found. The same thing has occurred in Canada and France. It's entirely feasible to consider that the same thing might be happening here because we simply don't know where the money is going."

A number of organisations in Australia certify food products for domestic sale and export that meet halal guidelines - Islamic rules regarding the source and preparation of food that are set out in the Koran.

Many Australian companies that export to the Middle East have been halal-certified for years, including Kellogg's cereals and many meat exporters.

Halal Australia, a company that certifies halal food, flatly denies supporting terrorism, in a post on its website.

"The service fees paid to Halal Australia for halal certification and accreditation are used to maintain the normal costs of running a registered business in Australia.

"Halal certification profits DO NOT go towards supporting any terrorist activities or violent politically motivated religious organisations.

"Nor do we have anything to do with any organisation or group anywhere in the world that incites violence and are not aligned with our values of freedom, egalitarianism, equality of opportunity, and mutual respect and tolerance."

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has been approached for comment.

In September, Mr Christensen was the first Coalition MP to call for Islamic head coverings such as burqas to be banned from Parliament House.

"We shouldn't tolerate sharia law in Aust and the burqa/niqab shouldn't be worn in public," he tweeted.

In an interview with ABC journalists, Mr Christensen said his constituents raised concerns about the burqa often.

"People get worried when someone walks in and they can't see exactly who it is," he said.

"It's not something that just to be sneered at as something that's not politically correct and we shouldn't be talking about it."

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Evidence that HALAL fees go to support terrorism

One of many ignorant shock jocks opining on claims that halal certification fees go to terrorist groups: “Of course there’s no proof of that”, said Hadley somebugger. But the Arab Bank (a prolific advertiser on Sydney’s 2GB radio station) was found liable in Linde v. Arab Bank, PLC in September last year for funding 24 separate terrorist attacks. Well done Mr Hadley!

And you might like to note the following, it is the 2013 Annual report signed off by the President of the Islamic Council of WA, (Dr) Rateb Jneid:

“... Our Halal subcommittee now is functional and income starts coming Alhamdulillah (meaning ‘all Praise and thanks be to God’).

“Our next aim is to expand Halal certification for local and international business insha’Allah (God willing).

“In our Masjid (mosque), many activities were conducted by our resident Imam Hisham Obeid.

“Over the year the Masjid has continued to assist other associations by allowing the facility (halal certification setup) to be used, Alhamdullah.”

(Dr) Jneib’s annual report continued, “During the year ICWA (the Islamic Council of WA) has made ongoing donations to Syria because of the difficult civil conditions.

"The donations were made through al Imdaad charity, to ensure that no recriminations could be directed at ICWA.”

Sgd Dr Rateb Jneid
President- Islamic Council of WA

Okay, obviously an unintended slip of the pen, but just who is this President (Dr) Rateb Jneid (forget the Dr bit, they all give themselves false titles) and what exactly is this al Imdaad charity?

Hang on to your hat!

Al Imdaad is a well-known international sham charity that distributes funds to Syria (ISIS), Hamas, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and many other Jihadist groups. It has recently concentrated its efforts helping to support ISIS and has branches in South Africa, right across Europe and North America.

Al Imdaad goes to extreme lengths to project itself as a charitable organisation. In fact it is anything but a charity and is linked to the infamous IRFAN (International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy).

In 2012-13, al Imdaad's UK branch raised over £400,000 for a Turkish charity known to fund terrorism. It has also given over £50,000 to the Zamzam Foundation, a Somali charity run by the Saudi-funded Somali Muslim Brotherhood.

Between 2005 and 2009, IRFAN-Canada transferred approximately $14.5 million to various terrorist organisations including Hamas.

On April 29, last year, The Honourable Steven Blaney, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced that the Government had listed the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.

Since then Canada has broken up the Islamic scams, laid charges and cancelled their charity (tax free) status with al Imdaad, IRFAN and a dozen smaller offshoots now unable to operate in Canada.

But they remain free to operate elsewhere including in the UK and France (where there are electoral considerations) using kindly and compassionate names like “Orphans in Need”, “Human Relief Foundation” and “Muslim Hands”.

In Australia, the “Human Appeal International” charity operates freely using smaller “feeder” charities to assist in laundering funds to terrorist groups. HAI has 14 offices world-wide including local offices in Australia at Lakemba (Sydney), Coburg (Melbourne) and Mile End (Adelaide).

In a written statement, the Attorney-General's office said these groups, "... do have some legitimate social and charitable activities" and that the challenge "is to identify that component of funding which might be directed to terrorist activities" .

In December 2011, “Human Appeal (Australia)” hosted an event which featured the hate preacher Haitham al-Haddad as a guest speaker. Al-Haddad regards Jews as, "enemies of god, and descendants of apes and pigs", and disregards any form of peace until "Allah's will governs the whole earth, and for no other law to remain."

Haddad deems homosexuality a crime and supports the subjugation of women, telling them: "you must obey [your husband]."

Human Appeal (Australia) raises much of its funds through an annual concert called ‘Sounds of Light’, held at the end of each year at Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Olympic Park Sydney, Adelaide Town Hall and Riverside Theatre, Perth.

A major ‘Gold’ sponsor of Sounds of Light is Halal Helpline (www.halalhelpline.org). An annual Gold sponsorship is $20,000.

Funding terrorism attracts a ten year jail term Mr El Mouelhy, so you’d better grab your toothbrush and a cake of soap.

Okay, so now to this (Dr) Rateb Jneid, President of the Islamic Council of WA:

Mr Jneid was claimed to be the kingpin when WA Police cracked a major methamphetamine trafficking syndicate after a four-month probe netted more than $8 million worth of the drug ice, $380,000 in cash and a number of unlicensed firearms.

Mr Jneid's sons Ziad and Rabih have long been persons of interest for WA Police and have resulted in a number of raids.
Detectives from the WA Organised Crime Squad led the latest protracted sting with a series of raids on properties in Kewdale, Munster and Bibra Lake.

Police say they suspect profits from the drug syndicate were finding their way to Jihadist organisations overseas.

Liam Ducey of WA news.com said five men and a woman had been charged, including the President of the WA Islamic Council, (Dr) Rateb Jneid.

Incredibly the ABC, despite a comprehensive Police report, managed to cover the entire news item without once mentioning an Islamic connection or that one of those charged was the President of the Islamic Council of WA who admitted to funding the Syrian conflict using the al Imdaad "charity". That’s our independent ABC, I guess.

As part of the “Countering Violent Extremism Program”, the Australian Government handed out over $4.2 million in taxpayer funds in just one year to 52 different Muslim “charitable” organisations plus tens of millions annually to mosques and private Islamic schools, much of which is unaccounted for, except in one case that raised suspicion, a Sydney mosque was ordered to repay $9 million. Hmmm.

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Affluent Iranians lead push for asylum

The dramatic influx of boatpeople from Iran over the past five years has been driven by economic factors or the desire to join family ­already here. Most most arrivals are middle-class and able to pay their own way.

According to new research, the spike has increased the number of Iranians in Australia by up to 20 per cent. Few arrivals are likely to have been counted in the 2011 census, which recorded 34,453 ­Iranian-born people.

The research, pointing to ongoing demand in Iran for passage to Australia, coincides with the visit of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to Tehran, where she will lobby the Muslim nation’s leadership to take back hundreds of asylum-seekers who have been denied refugee status.

According to the Immigration ­Department, 22.6 per cent of the 1848 detainees in mainland facilities are Iranians. They make up just more than 30 per cent of the 2512 arrivals now living in the community after being approved for residence ­determinations.

A fresh survey of 199 Iranians preparing to leave Iran, included in research conducted by global development start-up Farsight, has found Australia is the fourth most popular destination behind Britain, Sweden and Germany.

Of those surveyed, 26 Iranians (13 per cent) were focused on coming to Australia and 25 people had already invested money in their travel plans. Nearly half of this group said they were motivated by joining family members, underlining that small diasporas can generate momentum in shaping larger migration outcomes over time.

The second most common ­response when people were asked why they were leaving was “I cannot find a job here”, providing further evidence that economic motivation and financial security play roles in driving irregular migrati­on to Australia.

Writing in The Weekend Australian, Farsight chief executive and migration expert Jacob Townsend says despite the tough border protection policies put in place by the Abbott government, there remains strong demand in Iran for entry to Australia.

“It is likely that flows to Australia would bounce back if policies were reversed; the fact that 13 per cent of respondents are still preparing to depart for Australia despit­e the uncertainties is an indic­ation of resilient demand,” he says. He said Iranians made up 5 per cent of protection requests in 2009-10, then 30 per cent in 2010-11, and 21 per cent, 24 per cent and 27 per cent in the next years.

He warns that smugglers were now “moving  people  by  air, providing  a  package  of  travel  to Malay­sia, illegal documents  and facilitation”  to  ensure  people were not stopped  boarding  the flight  to  Australia. The costs for migrants seeking documents for this kind of passage are often more than $US15,000 ($19,335).

“The protection system is not meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people,” Mr Townsend writes. “It is primarily meeting the needs of somewhere between lower-middle-class and middle-class people in these countries who can afford to leave whether or not they face a threat.”

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Five arrested in counter-terrorism raids in Melbourne's south-east

Neighbours woke to screams as Melbourne terror raids started
Police have charged an 18-year-old man with conspiring to plan a terrorist attack on Anzac Day following multiple raids across Melbourne on Saturday morning.

Sevdet Besim, of Hallam, appeared briefly in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday afternoon.  In the hearing, which only lasted minutes, Besim, who was dressed in casual clothes, remained silent.  No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody until a hearing on April 24.

Mr Besim was one of two men, the other an 18-year-old from Hampton Park, who police allege were planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at a Melbourne Anzac Day event targeting police officers.

He was among five teenagers arrested in raids on Saturday morning.

The 18-year-old Hampton Park teenager remains in custody, with police making an interim Preventative Detention Order application under 2003 anti-terror laws, which prevent the release of further details.

A Narre Warren man, 18, was released on Saturday afternoon and is expected to be charged on summons with prohibited weapon offences.  Two other Narre Warren men, aged 18 and 19, were released without charge pending further inquiries.

In response to the raids, Premier Daniel Andrews said security will be boosted at next Saturday's dawn service and march, while Prime Minister Tony Abbott urged people planning to attend Anzac Day events not to be deterred by the raids.

Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police executed seven search warrants on properties in Narre Warren, Hampton Park, Hallam and Eumemmerring about 4am on Saturday. Five men were arrested in the raids, the culmination of Operation Rising.

Both men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences were "associates" but not relatives of Numan Haider, who was shot and killed by police in September 2014 after stabbing anti-terrorism officers at Endeavour Hills, Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.

The planned attack could have come "any time in the next week," acting Deputy Commissioner Patton said.

Police have refused to disclose what Anzac celebration had been targeted.

"We have acted swiftly to disrupt an attack intended to bring harm to everyday Victorians going about their business," acting Deputy Commissioner Patton said.

"During Anzac Day commemorations, we encourage people to continue with their plan, but remain vigilant.

Police said the men's plans were "ISIS inspired", a reference to Islamic State, also known as IS or ISIL.

"At this stage we have no information there was a planned beheading," AFP acting Deputy Commissoner Neil Gaughan said.

"Some evidence that we've collected at a couple of the scenes - and some other information we have - leads us to believe that this particular matter was ISIS-inspired. But it's early days and we're not going into further details than that."

Police declined to comment on whether it was "retaliation" for the shooting death of Haider last year.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said police were comfortable the threat was "fully contained".

"But obviously as the investigations continue we'll continue chase the rabbit down the hole and see what comes of it," he said.

The weapons confiscated were all edged weapons, not firearms.  "There was a knife and there was a sword. There was suggestion of firearms but we have not seized any," acting Victoria Police Commissioner Tim Cartwright said.

Two men arrested in the raids sustained minor injuries. Another 18-year-old man, from Narre Warren, was arrested over weapons offences. Two other men, aged 18 and 19, both from Narre Warren, were also arrested and are in custody assisting police.

The men had frequented the al-Furqan bookshop and Islamic centre in Springvale South, which was also linked to Haider.

On Saturday morning, police continued to search several properties in the area.  

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Gaughan said the entire community should be concerned about the young age of the suspects.

"This is an issue not just for law enforcement but the broader community," he said.

"We need to get better in relation to identifying young men and women that are involved in this type of behaviour at the very early stages and we need intervention strategies to ensure that they don't go down this path."

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Michelle Gordon appointed new justice of the High Court of Australia

A conservative appointment, one hopes

The Federal Government has appointed Michelle Gordon as the next justice of the High Court of Australia.

Currently a Federal Court judge, she will replace her husband Justice Kenneth Hayne, who will reach the statutory retirement on June 5.

Attorney-General George Brandis said Justice Gordon has enjoyed an illustrious career as a lawyer, barrister and a judge.

Justice Gordon turns 51 this year, meaning she will be able to serve on the High Court for 19 years.

Senator Brandis lauded Justice Gordon's "distinguished career in the law, both at the bar and on the bench".

"Justice Gordon was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in April 2007. The contribution Her Honour has made to the development of the law, particularly in commercial law, is widely recognised by her colleagues on the Bench and at the Bar," Mr Brandis said in a statement.

"On behalf of the Government, I congratulate Justice Gordon on her appointment.

"May I also take the opportunity to thank Justice Hayne for his many years of distinguished judicial service to the Australian people, and wish him a long, happy and active retirement."

Justice Gordon will officially be sworn in on June 9, 2015.

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