PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENT PROTESTERS

Published: September 17, 2012 

Federal parliament has united to condemn the violent reaction to the online video of a "lone nutter" during a protest in Sydney at the weekend.
Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan said allowing children to carry offensive placards at the protest, in which six police and 17 people were injured, was reprehensible.
"I think the parliament is at one in condemning this behaviour," Mr Swan told parliament on Monday.
The violence broke out after about 200 Muslims gathered in central Sydney on Saturday to protest against the anti-Islam film made in the US.
Among the placards was one that said: "Behead all those who insult the Prophet."
"They seek to blame the US, President Obama and his ambassadors for a lousy propaganda film, the work of a lone nutter," Foreign Minister Bob Carr told the Senate.
"Frankly, if you believe in beheading, then you'll probably be never happy living in Australia."
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop reminded parliament those involved were protesting against the same video that allegedly sparked an attack on the US Consulate in Libya, which ended with the death of the US ambassador.
However, the anti-Islam YouTube video was neither produced nor endorsed by the US government and had been condemned by American officials.
"The rioters had no reason whatsoever for seeking to violently target the offices of the US consulate in Sydney," Ms Bishop said.
She also asked why the federal government had refused to withdraw a visa issued to "hate preacher" Taji Mustafa, who spoke at a conference held by the Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Sydney on Sunday.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said Hizb ut-Tahrir was not a banned group in Australia, the US or the UK, so there was no reason for Mr Mustafa to be refused a visa.
But Mr Bowen is prepared to take action against any of those arrested over the violence in Sydney who turn out to be non-Australian and is awaiting the outcome of any legal action by the NSW Police.
Senator Carr said he had spoken to a number of Muslim leaders on Monday and congratulated them on their forthright condemnation of the protests.
Australian Greens multiculturalism spokesman Richard Di Natale said the violence was unacceptable.
"But the knee-jerk and opportunistic call from some commentators for Australia to shut its doors and 'give intolerance a try' is just as offensive," Senator Di Natale said in a statement.
South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi said on his website he had warned colleagues for years the violence seen in western Europe a decade ago could happen here.
"When are our political and community leaders going to wake up to the fact that what is going on here is exactly the same process that has caused such chaos in some comparable nations?" Senator Bernardi asked.

This story was found at: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/parliament-condemns-violent-protesters-20120917-261y9.html