In Australia, a recent poll found that 49% of Australian want Muslim immigration to be stopped, citing lack of integration as the key issue.
Muslim Leaders
There is little ordinary Australians can do to overcome their fellow countrymen’s fears about the lack of integration of Muslim immigrants into Australia. There is much that Muslim leaders can do to address the perception.
They could speak out about the following obvious sore points:
- Argue that the full face covering of the burka is not appropriate in a multi-cultural country like Australia.
- Argue that polygamous marriages are not allowed under Australian law, and should not be practiced in this country.
- Argue that payment of taxes is a good way to demonstrate that Muslims can be good citizens.
- Argue that work, not welfare, is the way to be a useful member of the Australian community.
Muslim integration failures = reduced immigration.
There will be no overt “anti-Muslim” rhetoric from the Australian government, but there are many actions that a democratic government will take to address the perceived fears surrounding a lack of Muslim integration.
One of the leading ways for Muslim immigration to be restricted is to cut back on the “family reunion” programmes. This can be done just be restricting the number of visa allocated for this purpose in any one year.
The government could adopt a non-Muslim bias in accepting refugees. Since there are many worthy refugees seeking asylum in Australia, even from the Middle East, there is no reason for Australia to take any more Muslim refugees.
Muslim Integration
If Muslim leaders want to overcome the perceived “bias” in Australia against Muslim immigration, it is entirely in their hands. Open days in mosques will not cut it. It really requires Muslims to act as if they really want to live in a multi-cultural country like Australia. If they don’t, they will hurt those they love the most.
