The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) is outraged by the Federal Government’s unfair treatment of Senator Fatima Payman over the Gaza conflict. The Government appears to be forcing the Senator to resign from the ALP with the indefinite suspension from the caucus for following her voting with her conscience. But it has done nothing to stop Israel that has killed more than 40,000 people with 20,000 children missing, starving a whole population and defied international law and the world community.
The Government is wrong.
They should not punish Senator Payman for following her conscience. They should punish Israel for the ongoing crimes it is committing.
’We fully support Fatima Payman. She has put conscience and country before party and politics. The suspension is excessive and will alienate both Senator Payman and those who share her views.’ Said Dr Rateb Jneid President of AFIC.
The commentary about Senator Payman should not distract from the urgent need to end the killing, starving and torturing of a whole population. Rather the country should be putting its resolve into ensuring that no Australian arms end up supporting the slaughter and torture of civilians, joining the International Criminal Court of Justice to ensure that fairness is applied and to sending international observers to establish the facts on the ground.
AFIC, established in 1964, stands as the Peak Muslim Organisation in Australia, with more than 170 members and 9 State and Territory Councils. It has a rich history of pioneering numerous community services and actively advocating for the rights and representation of the Muslim community.