Here’s a Good Idea

Australia may tighten its anti-terror laws to prevent the sale of radical Islamic “terror” books such as those which incite attacks, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said yesterday.

Police are investigating Islamic bookstores in Sydney which have sold material promoting extremist views, including one book which was endorsed by Osama bin Laden.

The Islamic Bookstore at Lakemba, a strongly Muslim suburb in Sydney’s southwest, carried a book entitled Defence of the Muslim Lands which discusses the effectiveness of suicide bombings.

Bin Laden wrote in an acknowledgement on the cover that “women have proven themselves incapable” of giving birth to another man like the author, Sheik Abdullah Azzam, who is believed to have been killed in a bombing in the 1980s.

Other books on sale included The Absent Obligation by Muhamed Abdus Salam Faraj. It uses quotes from the Qur’an to suggest that suicide is acceptable if one “offers his life for the cause of Allah”.

A book by an Australian migrant called The Criminal West describes Australia as a land of discrimination, drugs, prostitution and gambling, according to reports which also named other bookstores with controversial titles.

Ruddock told commercial radio that police were investigating whether the material contravened current anti-terror laws.

“The police, the Australian Federal Police are investigating the particular documents to see whether or not they do constitute a breach of law and if they do they’ll act in relation to that,” Ruddock said. “If they don’t – and I form a view that they are sufficiently of concern that the law ought to be amended – we’ll look at that.”
Ruddock said it was an offence under current laws to collect or make documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. The offence is punishable by 15 years in prison.

Australian Federal Police are leading an investigation into the sale of the books which could have national fall-out, New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said.

“My advice is the Australian Federal Police will lead this investigation which of course has national ramifications, while New South Wales police will continue to assist in certain areas,” Moroney said in a statement.

A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police refused to comment on whether the investigation would be extended nationally but said police were working with all relevant state and territory parties as well as the Australian Muslim community.

British police are investigating an extremist bookstore in Leeds which was visited by at least two of the four people who carried out the July 7 bombings in London. – AFP