Survey reveals Aussie Muslims who think ISIS has legitimate grievances

A DISTURBING number of Australian Muslims say terror groups such as ISIS have legitimate grievances, despite condemning terrorism.

And the findings of a study to be released this week reveal the terrorists’ relentless propaganda war is tapping into Islamic community angst over Australia’s counter-terrorism crackdown.

“One of the key messages of terrorist groups ... is that Muslims are a victimised and suppressed minority,” University of Queensland researcher Dr Adrian Cherney said.

He said the survey of 800 Muslims showed political leaders’ attacks on Muslims “can push them to actually say: ‘Well hang on a second, the terrorists are right. Some of their grievances are true’.

“I think that’s what it is tapping into,” Dr Cherney said. “But that doesn’t mean they (Australian Muslims) are going to go out and start attacking people.”

More than one in five participants agreed terrorists had legitimate grievances.

But Brisbane Muslim leader Ali Kadri stressed the findings should not be interpreted as supporting terror groups.

“(Most) Muslims do not condone the killing and persecution of innocent people ,” Mr Kadri said. Citing atrocities committed by the Assad regime in Syria, he said: “Protecting civilians from these atrocities is a legitimate grievance, however using terror and persecution ... is not legitimate or productive.”