Scott Morrison accused of ‘deeply ill-informed’ attack on religious freedom after Islam speech

<p>Former PM called for national register and accreditation for imams, sparking backlash from Muslim leaders</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jan/28/australia-news-live-anthony-albanese-timor-leste-heatwave-nsw-bushfires-victoria-weather-liberals-leadership-sussan-ley-andrew-hastie-angus-taylor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Leading Islamic community groups have condemned Scott Morrison as “deeply ill-informed” and “dangerous” after the former prime minister demanded a national register and accreditation for imams, and expanding foreign interference frameworks to capture foreign links in religious institutions.</p><p>The former Liberal leader, speaking at an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday, claimed the measures were needed in the wake of the Isis-inspired Bondi terror shooting at a Hanukah event, which left 15 people dead. Morrison demanded a focus on “radicalised extremist Islam”, noting the two alleged Bondi shooters “were Australian-made” and demanding local Muslim bodies do more to stamp out hate.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/28/scott-morrison-muslim-speech-religious-freedoms-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →