http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/12/19/390865/muslims-in-australia-pay-tribute-to-terror-siege-victims/
Reme Sakr, Press TV, Sydney
Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:0AM GMT
Muslims in Australia pay tribute to terror siege victims
Fact Corner: Thousands of people in Australia have paid tribute to the victims of a recent cafe siege in Sydney. Now as authorities continue their investigations, local communities fear a potential backlash of hate crimes against Australian Muslims.
Given political asylum in Australia after escaping from Iran. Man Haron Monis had a violent criminal history, including serious charges of accessory to murder and sexual assault, as well as showing online support for the ISIL terror group. On Monday morning, he entered the Lindt cafe in central Sydney armed with a shotgun and took 17 people hostage. The 16-and-a-half hour siege claimed the lives of mother of three Katrina Dawson, shop manager Tori Johnson and the gunman.
Australian Muslims say that they stand in unity with the families of the victims and grieve alongside the nation. Earlier this year, anti-terror raids conducted by NSW police sparked a series of Islamophobic attacks around the country where Muslim women were publicly abused and mosques defaced. The Twitter hashtag #IllRideWithYou, was created to counter a potential anti-Muslim backlash over the Sydney siege. The hashtag has since been featured in over 300,000 tweets worldwide. As users tweeted messages declaring they would ride with anyone who was scared to take public transport because they were wearing religious dress. Regardless of faith or color, Australia mourns as one. The shock from the tragic events that unfolded here in Martin Place will take some time to wear off. Why would someone with an alleged history of violent crime and an infatuation with extremism be walking freely in the community, let alone obtain a firearm. And why didn’t authorities respond to the warnings they were given about Man Haron Monis. These, and many others are questions that will eventually need to be answered.
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