Photo showed the reality of Islamist behaviour
THE image of a seven-year-old child holding the severed head of a Syrian soldier is sickening and downright evil (“That’s my boy: kids witness war’s horror”, 11/8).
That an Australian jihadist could use his own child in this way is beyond comprehension and has nothing to do with religion.
Muslims throughout the world must make every effort to dissociate themselves from these fanatical Islamists who are intent only on pursuing their malevolent agenda.
Those who hijack Islam or any other religion for wicked purposes have no place in our society.
Ed Sianski, West Moonah, Tas
I THOUGHT I was pretty much inured to the shocking images of the violence in the Middle East until I picked up Monday’s The Australian. The image of a young boy holding aloft the severed head of someone else’s father rattled me badly, but underlined recent warnings.
I await with interest Islam’s reaction to the photo of one of its young adherents proudly holding the severed head once belonging to a follower of another branch of Islam, the religion of peace. If the price of ensuring these people never find their way back to Australia is the minor and temporary loss of a bit of our privacy, then bring it on. Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear.
John McHarg, Baldivis, WA
THANK you for your front page photo which should alarm all decent Australians and those who cannot comprehend that such people share our democratic country and who cannot understand the values and ideals which have been imbued in us over the generations.
That poor child, whose psyche has been damaged, possibly irreparably if he survives, has little hope. What type of family has nurtured this child? What loving mother has allowed her husband to take away his childhood?
There are no words to describe this photo. Barbaric, butchery and brutality are too weak. It is evil personified. And it is one incident among many, in the genocide of minorities in the Middle East.
Lesley Beckhouse, Queanbeyan, NSW
AS readers of The Australian for 30 years, we have never been so angry as we are with the picture of a child holding the head of a slain soldier. There is great disappointment that what we believe is a quality newspaper has sunk so low in printing such an image.
Children see these pictures and stories, so why do we have to see such images. We know full well what is going on in these extremist regimes, but we do not need to resort to this.
While Tony Abbott can deplore this, there should be some restraint in what is published. We should get the government to ensure that these so-called Australians who go overseas and participate in these extremist organisations forfeit their citizenship and are never allowed back.
Ken and Cate Davis, Somerton Park, SA
YASSER Soliman’s view of Peter Leahy as one “who sees the world in terms of war and conflict” (“Muslims slam 100-year war call”, 11/8) is the height of irony. Islam was born in war and conflict, it spread at the point of the sword, just as the Islamic State is now spreading its “caliphate”.
The difference is that, apart from Yazidi in Iraq, their principal victims are Muslims — the Shia — against whom the Sunni have been at war for 14 centuries. And who are these genocidal psychopaths seen decapitating their captive “infidels”?
Until Muslims learn to live in this century instead of the seventh, and come to terms with democracy, their objection to our defence against the enemy within and without will be treated in the manner it deserves. Of course, if they don’t care to live in the country that gave them shelter, they have a recourse.
Tim Saclier, Leopold, Vic
YOUR front page reminded me that years ago, when she visited Australia, Ayaan Hirsi Ali warned us to demand more commitment from Muslim immigrants. Where are those commitments? Where are the Muslim mothers hiding their children from the horrors of Islamic terror? If there are any moderate Muslims in Australia, where are they? They should be screaming at radicals to stop.
As a person upholding Christian values, I am offended and insulted, but not intimidated by the presence of radical Islam in Australia, the country of my birth and of my heart.
Beth Johnson, Auchenflower, Qld
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