Muslim figure defends Vic principal
Victoria's Education Minister James Merlino has slammed an Islamic school principal's claim that Western nations are backing Islamic State as "dangerous and confusing" for students.
Al-Taqwa College principal Omar Hallak reportedly told some students IS was backed by western countries as part of a plot to control Middle Eastern oil supplies.
Mr Merlino labelled those comments as dangerous.
"They're reckless. They're dangerous and it leads to confusion in young people ... the best way to tackle radicalisation is through education of young people. The worst thing you can do is put reckless and dangerous ideas into their heads," he told reporters on Monday.
The Islamic Council of Victoria does not support Mr Hallak's claim.
Keysar Trad, Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman, said Mr Hallak was only trying to discourage young people from joining the terror group - though his approach was wrong-headed.
"I can understand anyone taking offence to being in any way implicated in the type of crimes that IS has been reported to have done," Mr Trad told Fairfax Radio on Monday.
"But in the bigger picture scheme of things, the real issues are that we have to find as many ways as possible to convince young people to keep away from this group and have negative feelings towards this group."
Instead of criticising the principal for blaming the West, Mr Trad said Mr Hallak should be told "we appreciate what you're doing, but we don't need the `us and them` approach".
Mr Trad said IS had done unprecedented damage to the image of Islam.
He said there was a minority view about that IS was a plot from forces outside of Islam, from either the West or Syria's Asad regime.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
![Laverne Cox Gives NYLON Life Advice\n \nSuperstar Laverne Cox sat down with NYLON for the August Denim Issue ¿ on stands now. In the interview, Cox opened up about her part as an activist and public figure, what¿s wrong with focusing on appearance and gave advice around navigating and changing our patriarchal society. See some select quotes from the packed interview below and read the full story on NYLON.com.\n \nOn facial feminization surgery and beauty standards: "Years ago I wanted to have the kind of cosmetic facial feminization surgery that Caitlyn [Jenner] has made popular in terms of people¿s understanding. But I didn¿t have the money to do it. I¿m so blessed and grateful that I didn¿t because I would look completely different. I¿ve had to learn to love and accept all those things about me that make me distinctly trans: my broad shoulders, my big hands and feet, my deep voice. It¿s so deeply ingrained in this culture, though. When Caitlyn¿s Vanity Fair cover came out, the langu](http://web.archive.org/web/20150723052453im_/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/07/22/20/2AC2729D00000578-0-image-m-24_1437594565796.jpg)
