Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sparked criticism by saying Islam has a “massive problem” and needs to reform.
According to Australian media, former PM said, “not all cultures are equal” and the West should stop apologising for defending its values.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the comments were “counterproductive”.
Current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the vast majority of Muslims were “appalled” by extremism.
Turnbull said it was “absolutely vital to ensure that we don’t make the mistake, which is what the terrorists want us to do, of tagging every single Muslim with the responsibility for the crimes of the few”.
While it was “no revelation” that there were violent elements in the Muslim world, the religion is compatible with democracy and an open society, he said, and most victims of extremist groups are Muslims.
