Aussies linked to terror network
Richard Kerbaj | December 14, 2007 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,22921938-2702,00.html?from=pub lic_rss DOZENS of young Melbourne men are being investigated by police over suspected ties to the Iranian-backed terrorist network Hezbollah. Victorian counter-terrorism authorities are analysing video footage and photographs taken at public meetings attended by Australian Muslims in support of the Shia organisation. The Australian understands some of the images being examined are of men, predominantly in their 20s, waving Hezbollah banners and flags during protests in Melbourne last year against the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon. More than 50 men, largely of Lebanese heritage, are being monitored by the police, but none has been arrested or interviewed. It is understood some of the men are related. Authorities are also believed to be investigating a possible Melbourne-based Hezbollah cell, suspected of propagating political ideologies and raising funds for its leadership in Lebanon. Hezbollah's military arm, the External Security Organisation, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Australia. Sources told The Australian police feared some Hezbollah backers were exploiting a loophole in Australia's terror laws that allows political support for the organisation's political arm. The Australian revealed in June that Australia's most senior Shia Muslim cleric, Kamal Mousselmani, had openly declared his support for Hezbollah, saying it was a "resistance group", not a terrorist network. The president of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Australia also said the nation's 30,000 Shi'ites were avid supporters of Hezbollah and haters of Israel. "Shia in Australia consider Israel a terrorist organisation and also view those who support Israel in the same light," he said. "That's what we believe. "If Australia supports Israel, they are defending terrorism. Because we believe terrorists come from Israel, not from our people, I support Hezbollah." In July last year, Australia's mufti, Fehmi Naji el-Imam, praised Hezbollah militants as "freedom fighters". He made the comments on the steps of the Victorian parliament during an anti-war rally in Melbourne that attracted more than 1500 people. The 79-year-old mufti last year called for Hezbollah to be removed from the federal Government's proscribed groups list. Security authorities are believed to be monitoring funds being raised by Shia community members in Australia that they suspect are being funnelled to Hezbollah's Lebanese leadership. Sheik Mousselmani admitted in a previous interview with The Australian that his followers had sent money to Lebanon last year following the conflict, but he stressed the cash was to support war victims. The Australian Federal Police also launched an investigation into the sacked national Muslim leader Taj Din al-Hilali this year following revelations he handed $US10,000 in cash to an Islamic leader with alleged links to Hezbollah and failed to account for other cash donations he made during time spent in Lebanon last year. Sydney's Arncliffe Mosque, the largest Shia place of worship in Australia, and Melbourne's Fawkner Mosque are understood to be of interest to the authorities, amid fears they may have been used as platforms to promote support for Hezbollah. (F)AIR USE NOTICE: All original content and/or articles and graphics in this message are copyrighted, unless specifically noted otherwise. All rights to these copyrighted items are reserved. Articles and graphics have been placed within for educational and discussion purposes only, in compliance with "Fair Use" criteria established in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. 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