19/12/2025
Statement from the Islamic Society of South Australia
At times of tragedy, facts, fairness, and leadership matter.
Australians rightly reject violence in all its forms. At the same time, it is unacceptable for an entire faith community to be made to feel responsible for the actions of an unknown individual simply because that person claims to be Muslim.
While there has rightly been strong recognition of the bravery and selflessness shown by our brother Ahmed Al-Ahmed, this should also be reflected as a true representation of the values of our faith and the sentiments of our community. It is neither fair nor accurate for the actions of one or two rejected and misguided individuals to overshadow the compassion, courage, and responsibility demonstrated by the overwhelming majority of Australian Muslims.
No community should be asked to live in fear, suspicion, or collective blame. No Australian should wake up uncertain about tomorrow because of how others might react to an incident they had nothing to do with.
Mental illness, online extremism, and exposure to dangerous material are real challenges that affect all communities, not one faith or one group. Acts of violence committed by individuals must be addressed as individual acts, not projected onto millions of innocent people.
The concerns being expressed by the Muslim community are valid and deserve to be acknowledged and addressed. Calling for transparency, verified facts, and responsible reporting is not denial, nor is it fear, it is a reasonable and necessary response to protect community safety and social cohesion.
The Islamic Society of South Australia is working constructively with government and law-enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our community and the wider Australian public. We remain committed to cooperation, dialogue, and practical solutions, informed by past experiences where poorly framed responses led to unintended consequences, including restrictions on civil liberties and legislation that left communities feeling targeted rather than protected.
We must be able to speak the truth calmly and responsibly, even when incidents are loud, emotional, and confronting. Silence or pressure to accept rushed narratives does not serve justice, public safety, or unity.
The Islamic Society of South Australia calls for:
• fairness over collective blame
• facts over speculation
• calm over fear
• responsibility over sensationalism
Our mosques, families, and communities deserve to live in safety and dignity.
We remain committed to peace, truth, and the protection of all Australians.
