A number of people have asked about the image being shared in relation to this petition, so I wanted to clarify the context.
The image used by Ralph Babet relates to an event involving ISIS that occurred in Libya in 2015, more than ten years ago. What happened in that event was horrific and deeply disturbing, and it is something that Muslim communities around the world have repeatedly condemned.
It is important to be clear that the Muslim community does not support extremist violence. Community leaders in Australia and internationally have consistently condemned terrorism and extremist organisations such as ISIS. Those groups do not represent Islam or the overwhelming majority of Muslims.
The issue being raised by this petition is not about defending extremists. Extremism of any kind should always be condemned.
The concern many people have raised is that Senator Babet used imagery from a decade-old terrorist incident in another country to argue for the mass deportation of Muslims from Australia.
As a member of the Australian Senate, Senator Babet represents all constituents in his state. Elected representatives carry a responsibility to engage in public debate without unnecessarily promoting division between communities.
Importantly, Senator Babet did not call for the deportation of extremists. His comments referred to mass deportations, which implies that large numbers of people could be removed from the country on the basis of religion. This is what many people have found concerning.
There is also a relevant exchange recorded in Hansard, where Senator Babet stated that he “hates Islam” during Senate proceedings before later attempting to clarify that he meant “extreme Islam”. That exchange forms part of the official parliamentary record and can be read here:
Many people view those comments, together with his recent posts, as contributing to unnecessary division in Australia.
Criticising extremist violence is legitimate and important. However, using imagery from a decade-old terrorist incident to justify broad calls for the deportation of people based on religion is what this petition raises concerns about.
Australia is a diverse country, and many people believe our elected representatives should help maintain social cohesion rather than inflame tensions between communities.
If you support the principle that people should not be targeted or deported from Australia on the basis of religion, please continue to share this petition with others.
We are seeking to reach at least 1,000 signatures so that senators take this matter seriously, and ideally 5,000 signatures to demonstrate that this is an issue the community genuinely cares about.
You can help by:
• signing the petition if you have not already
• sharing it with friends and family
• posting it in community groups or social media
Public engagement is one of the most effective ways communities can raise concerns through democratic channels. Thank you to everyone who has already supported the petition and helped bring attention to this issue.