Posted September 15, 2006.
Australian University Library Removes Alleged Jihad Books
Fearing that federal authorities could press charges under the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005, the University of Melbourne has removed three books on Islamic jihad by Abdullah Azzam from open shelves in the Baillieu Library. Two of the books—Defence of the Muslim Lands and Join the Caravan—were banned from importation by a federal review board in July that found them liable to incite acts of terrorism and martyrdom, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported September 14. A Melbourne honors student who requested access to one of the books was refused permission to borrow or consult it.
However, Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock said researchers and faculty could still refer to works of extremist ideology as long as there was no intent to urge the use of violence. “We would hope [that faculty] would be responsible and lecture on the basis that these books have been refused classification,” a spokesman for Ruddock said in the September 15 Herald Sun.
Other Australian universities are considering limiting access to the books as well.
Posted September 15, 2006.