This month I have been researching the Government's intention to strip dual-nationals of their citizenship if they join ISIS (in any capacity) and head to the forbidden zone. So – not being American – I waded my way through our (very boring) constitution to see if we are legally justified to banish traitors. Traitor is a strong word, but if the cap fits…
Then I got sick. So, tucked up in bed, I convinced myself that watching TV was, in fact, valid research. And I know people like to say that the ABC has a left-leaning bias and its ‘their’ ABC and all that, but I’ve always thought, that apart from a few minor emissions in the news, it was largely a storm in a tea cup – until ABC decided to put an unrepentant, former terrorist suspect into a live TV audience.
Former terrorism suspect, David Hicks, who has been acquitted of any crime, was granted a question to John Howard, but sensibly, via video link. But not volatile Zaky Mallah, who had a massive tantrum when he was denied a passport, bought a gun and hatched a plan, threatening to kill ASIO staff. But he was none too bright and tried to sell a video outlining his plans to an undercover agent. He told the court, at the time, that he was merely heading to the Middle East to find a bride. Well, ten years on, where is this bride Zaky? Had a change of heart?
Following his arrest, shrieks of ‘entrapment’ ensued, and he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of threatening to kill an officer of the Commonwealth for which he was sentenced to 2.5 years. The court just couldn’t prove that he actually intended to carry out these threats, despite the fact they had documents on ASIO and ‘Preparing for Jihad’, a gun – and a will! In my experience, people who are merely big-noting themselves don’t make wills, but I wasn’t on the jury… more’s the pity.
So what was he doing in a live TV audience? He has over 180 Youtube videos in which we get a clear picture of an immature, self confessed ‘terrorist’ (his words) who rants on social media about whores who should be gang banged over a desk and confessions that he would not mind ‘dying a martyr’. He has a video ‘message’ for the ADL and, coincidentally, the leaders house was sprayed with bullets not long after. He justified multiple Muslim gang rapes on 14 year old girls on the grounds that, at least they didn’t kill the victims like ‘US soldiers in Iraq’ had done. He has also rationalised the chopping up of the UK soldier as the fault of British foreign policy. Hear that? FOREIGN policy, not policy affecting British citizens.
Predictably, the show went pear shaped when the minister to whom Mallah posed his question said that he would happily see the likes of him banished as a traitor. Mallah demonstrated his reactionary nature by retorting that it was the Minister's fault if Muslims joined ISIS. He further argues that the Government are bullying Muslims and causing them to join ISIS by stripping them of their citizenship – for joining ISIS. Not sure about you, but the logic of this statement evades me.
I believe in letting the stupid speak because it helps to elucidate that stupidity, but not in a live audience. We are talking about a man who still expresses support for Al Qaeda-linked groups. ABC was using this cretin for a ‘gotcha’ moment to attack the Government, but it backfired. And now they cannot be mature enough to admit it. So we must sit back and watch as Mallah is used by the public as a pawn in their political games to bring down the Government. But what happens when they tire of him? The last court judgement explicitly warned against giving Mallah a platform. It was found that the sharp drop in media attention last time contributed to his behaviour. When he is dumped like a ton of bricks this time will he blow up the Sydney Opera House?
Deradicalising the ABC
By Staunch Atheist, Australia