http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16167022%255E2702,00.htmlONE of Britain’s most radical Muslim converts, Abdur Raheem Green, will visit Australia later this month to lecture on the importance of jihad.Mr Green — a British citizen born Anthony Green, who has two wives and six children — was invited to Sydney by the Islamic Development Centre of Australia. In previous speeches, he has said Muslims and Westerners “cannot live peaceably together”. “The truth is that Islam teaches its followers to seek death on the battle field, that dying whilst fighting jihad is one of the surest ways to paradise and Allah’s good pleasure,” he said.
He says conflict between Islam and the West is “not only sanctioned but ordered in the Koran”.
Mr Green’s visit will be preceded by another seminar on August 13 when three local sheiks, including a cleric accused of having links to terrorist organisations, will speak on the topic “Jihad: Terrorism? Or a Muslim’s Highest Aspiration?”.
Tickets for the events are being distributed by Muslim bookshops, mosques and welfare agencies.
Sheik Abdul Salam Zoud, who has twice been accused of having links to terrorism, will speak at the event organised by the Muslim Women’s Association.
Spanish authorities claimed last year that Sheik Zoud had been in contact with al-Qa’ida leaders in Europe. American authorities say he is linked to a cleric recently charged with attempting to wage war on the US. The sheik denies the charges.
A Muslim Women’s Association spokeswoman said the group chose the word “jihad” as the topic of the lecture “because it gets attention”.
“We want this forum to be a success,” she said. “We hope it brings out the best in people. We don’t condone terrorism or violence. We just want Muslims to take control of the debate.”
The organiser of Mr Green’s tour sought to defend him yesterday. “He does not condone violence,” Mohammed Masri said. “He’s got long blond hair, blue eyes. He’s not a dark-skinned, hairy-face guy that frightens people.”
John Howard yesterday signalled tougher laws for people who incited terrorism, saying current laws “at least require a further review”.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said visitors should not be permitted to “come into this country and preach a hatred of another person”.