The Australian National Imams Council strongly supports Ed Husic MP’s recent message to the Australian Government, to explicitly advise against and prevent Israeli-Australian dual nationals from joining the Israeli Defence Forces while there is a case of genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Not only is there a case of genocide before the ICJ, but the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) the world’s leading body of genocide experts has passed a resolution affirming that Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under Article II of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel’s genocide against Gazans can no longer be considered a matter of disagreement, exaggeration, and met with unjustifiable suspicion and uncertainty. The position that Israel is committing a genocide is a well considered judgement of leading international legal institutions and scholars.
Australia already has laws designed to prevent its citizens from joining foreign forces involved in serious crimes and conflicts. These laws must be applied consistently, including in cases where Australians seek to fight with the IDF while its conduct is under investigation for genocide.
There is also a deep concern shared across the Muslim, and other Australian communities about the prospect of well-trained IDF soldiers returning after participating in genocide and possibly have committed crimes against humanity. To permit this would endanger community safety, undermine social cohesion, and erode confidence in the equal and fair application of Australian law.
We therefore stand firmly behind Ed Husic MP’s principled position, and call on the Australian Government to act decisively. Australia must stand on the right side of history upholding international law, protecting its citizens, and ensuring that our nation does not become complicit, directly or indirectly, in the crime of genocide.
These are some of the matters and topics addressed by the recent visit of the Muslim delegation to Canberra.
We extend our gratitude to the Hon. Ed Husic MP for his courage and principled position.
