Militant Islam in Australia

Militant Islam in Australia is a form of Islamic extremism often involving violence perpetrated by Australian Muslims against non-Muslim Australians. Militant Islam refers to trend of Muslim extremists who identify with Islamic states and who in the name of Islam tend to resort to violence against non-Muslims whom they consider to be "enemies."
Terror groups in Australia
Mantiqi 4 (Jemaah Islamiah)
A short-lived terror cell, known as Mantiqi 4, existed in Australia for several years. The group was sponsored by Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a terrorist group known for their attacks in Indonesia, and was established by Abdul Rahim Ayub, a member of Jemaah Islamiah. Ayub resided in Perth during the late 1990s all while being an active JI member, travelling and attending the group's leadership conferences in Indonesia. In contrast to the Jemaah Islamiah's other cells in Southeast Asia, the Mantiqi 4 cell was less of a focus for the organisation.
Lashkar-e-Taiba
The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terrorist organisation operating in India and Pakistan, set up a terror cell in Australia.
Domestic terrorism
Domestic terror plots
A number of instances of domestic terror inspired by political Islam include plots by Faheem Khalid Lodhi, Abdul Nacer Benbrika and Joseph T. Thomas.
Bob Hawke assassination plot
A plot to kill Bob Hawke was planned by Palestinian terrorists in the 1970s.
2005 Sydney terrorism plot
The 2005 Sydney terrorism plot concerned a group of five men arrested in 2005 on charges of planning an act of terrorism targeting Sydney, Australia's most populous city and the capital of New South Wales. The group was found guilty on 16 October 2009 and were sentenced on 15 February 2010 for terms up to 28 years.
ISIL-related incidents
A number of incidents relating to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group have involved Australians and garnered the attention of the Australian public. ISIL is a militant Sunni group which has been proscribed by Australian authorities as a terrorist organisation.
Recruitment
In 2014, two Australian Islamic extremists made a promotional video encouraging Australians to join the , The Australian Government has said it believed, "150 Australians have been or are currently overseas fighting with extremists in Iraq and Syria," with some of their activities said to be possible war crimes.
ISIL had recruited Australian nationals for terror attacks in the Middle East. In July 2014, the announced, an Australian suicide bomber killed three people in Baghdad. He was followed by another Australian who detonated his suicide bomb near a Shi’ite mosque, which killed 5 and injured 90 people.
Social media beheadings
One jihadist, Khaled Sharrouf, posted a picture of himself, and another of his son, holding a decapitated head. There was public outrage in Australia over the incident.
Threat of domestic terror
The Attorney-General Senator George Brandis has expressed concern that those fighting jihad, then returning from the Middle East, represent, "the most significant risk to Australia’s security that we have faced in many years." The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is concerned that Australians fighting jihad may return home to plan terror attacks. In October 2014, ISIL published an online video in which a teenage Australian Jihadi, Abdullah Elmir, threatened the United States and Australia, naming US president Barack Obama and Australian prime minister Tony Abbott as targets.
Reactions and responses
Muslim community
A number of forums and meetings have been held about the problem of extremist groups or ideology within the Australian Islamic community. A meeting of 60 sheikhs and leaders of community groups released a statement denouncing the federal government's proposed anti-terrorism laws as unjust, unjustified and hypocritical. A further meeting of 50 Muslim leaders endied with in-fighting and frustration. Glenn Mohammed a Muslim lawyer has written, "Muslims need to be able to discuss these issues openly and denounce barbaric behaviour. Instead, we choose to remain silent and then criticise a government that tries to make Australia safer." Sydney's Muslim leaders, including Keysar Trad, have condemned the actions of the suicide bombers and denounced ISIS. Psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed has examined underlying causes and has identified the significance of issues relating to 'family' and to 'denial'. He has said, "Muslim youths have unique difficulties in coming to terms with their identity, especially when they have conflicting value systems at home compared with school or work". Academic Rodger Shanahan has said that it is Muslim community leaders who have the greatest responsibility for defeating the ideological component that is fueling the threat to Australian nationals.
General community
Professor Peter Leahy, Director of National Security Institute at the University of Canberra and former Chief of Army said in August 2014, Australia should prepare for a 100-year war against radical Islam. Leahy said the threat was likely to worsen as radicals returned from overseas. Michael Krause, a former senior Australian Army officer responsible for planning the coalition campaign in Afghanistan, said he agreed “absolutely” with Leahy.
Professor Michael Wesley, Director of the School of International, Political and Strategic Studies at the Australian National University has said the Martin Place siege is an example of what he terms as 'Jihad 3.0' being both indiscriminate and horrifying, designed to tear at society’s sense of control and meaning.

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