Press Coverage

Conservative voices help our war on ideology These more traditional and conservative Muslim leaders have theological credibility within their communities. These leaders may not always share the West's interests in pluralism and in the development of liberal institutions. They won't share our views on gender equality, but many of them oppose violence. I think we must be willing to build on what common ground we can identify if we are to meet the challenge of terrorism. * Alexander Downer is the Foreign Minister. This is an edited extract...
Engage Islam moderates: Aussie minister The West must engage moderate Muslim leaders despite their conservative views on such issues as gender equality, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says. Addressing the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, Downer said such leaders must be brought into the fold if the west is to succeed in combatting extremist Islam and terrorism. He said some of their views would conflict with liberal standards but only they could prevent extremists from submerging the true...
Australia Considers Ban on Sri Lanka's LTTE "We are seriously considering banning the LTTE," stated Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, addressing a gathering on terrorism and Islamic extremism at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
We must engage conservative Islam - Downer Addressing the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London today, Mr Downer said such leaders must be brought into the fold if the west is to succeed in combatting extremist Islam and terrorism. The foreign affairs minister said some of their views would conflict with community standards but only those Muslim leaders could prevent fundamentalist views from submerging the true Islam.
Engage Conservative Muslim Leaders Western nations face an "emerging dilemma" over the need to engage Muslim leaders who hold conservative religious views on such issues as gender equality, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last night. Addressing the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, he said such leaders must be brought into the fold if the West is to succeed in combating extremist Islam and terrorism.