Why isn't the author responding to the issues being raised at this forum? Why isn't he discussing?

There really is only one question: is islam capable of abiding by the [secular] laws of this land?

It's interesting that Turkey was for nearly a century a secular society which had a majority of the population as muslims.

Now the army leaders, who enforced secularity in Turkey, have been arrested, sharia law is being introduced and Turkey is leading the charge to have islamophobia declared a crime against humanity.

The point here, as a corollary to the question above, is can we believe islam even if it does say it will abide by the [secular] laws, or will it be the case that islam merely waits until it is numerically or otherwise dominant in a nation and then introduces sharia?

'[The Hi'jab sprang from legalistic codification, the nomadic Arab culture/desert dress'

yes rhosty and Arab Islam sprang from the same source. However Arabs make up only 15-18% of Muslims.
I suspect you will find little belief in violence among non arab muslims. It's worth investigating. The effect of different cultures on Islam. I wonder what you'd make of the non violent Muslim communities that have been in Australia for more than 100 years?
The non violent cultural Muslim communities in south Asia. And the diversity of non violent cultural communities across the Muslim mid east and Nth africa ... particularly the Palestinians, Iranians, Turks and Egyptians?

Research would probably show propensity to violence is more a cultural issue rather than a religious issue.

With all respect Big Mal I think the Muslim communities of Brisbane and North Qld are more likely portends of things to come. Sydney and NSW is hardly representative of greater Australia any longer. aka, Cronulla, violent MUA riots and the origin of Union attacks on our parliament and with regular drive by shootings. I see NSW and particularly Sydney as a rogue bigoted, violent, brokew state within the Australian Federation. If it is a portend of things to come ... well it won't be. Too many of us reject it's stupid premises of hate and intolerence. And NSW cannot even win at rugby league.

Good afternoon to you Mr Mohamad Tabbaa...

An interesting article I believe. You would have us Aussies to be more understanding and conciliatory of Muslims. Rather than denouncing and condemning them, for their display of anger and frustration ?

Is that it in essence, the basis of your request ?

And what specifically has Australia done to inspire this anger and frustration Mr Tabbaa ?

I don't believe Australia or Australians have done anything, anything at all.

I will share something with you though. These young men who displayed such violence the other day, they may be of the Muslim faith, but I'll tell you something for nothing though, Sir !

There are many young blokes, who enjoy acting like 'Boofheads', who like nothing more than hanging around the Cross looking for, and finding trouble on any given Saturday night.

Fact is, I've probably 'locked up' hundreds in my time. Most are nothing more than young punks who get a bit of 'piss and mad manners' on board, get into a decent 'stink' and act like 'Bill the goose' !

I got to tell you Sir, I've got more respect for these idiots, then I'll ever have for your Muslim brethren, who HIDE behind their Muslim faith, in order to commit crimes of violence, causing serious alarm and affront to the general public at large.

If it's these types of young Muslim men, that you ask for understanding, I gotta tell you, you'll get bugger all from me.

In conclusion, you can warn these young Muslim punks (seeking our understanding), not to push the coppers too far, for they'll rue the day, if they do ? You can be assured of that.

It's indeed a pity, that this extraordinary display of violent behaviour from a few, demeans the reputation of the many decent and law abiding Muslims, residing peacefully in Australia.

Good afternoon to you Mr TABBAA

I found this on GoV, yes, I know, it's a right-wing pro-Israel site, however, stories like these are very rarely reported on the MSM here in Australia. I have to say that the article seemed unbelievable when I first read it

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/south-yorkshire-police-and-rotherham.html

If the story is accurate, the real culprits are the 'multiculturalists', they can only be described as "useful idiots". Are the UK police so infected with pc that they're unable or unwilling to enforce the law?

There are similar reports from Sweden-can it happen here?

There's nothing to discuss. Carrying signs claiming 'behead all those who insult the prophet' is not welcome here.
The Western world, of which Australia is part, has spent considerable time separating church and state. Islam has no such separation. Its ideology is all-encompassing.
Not only that, the Western world has a strong culture of criticism (in fact, a lot of high culture is predicated on this phenomenon) dating back to at least the Enlightenment. Why should Islam be excluded from this phenomenon? Why should, for example, Christianity be subjected to relentless criticism but can Islam walk free?
Academics have spent decades pouring scorn on Christianity, but will foster political Islam under the banner of 'multiculturalism,' 'equality,' and 'tolerance.'
As Mac stated above, Islamists are only half the problem, the academic left with their slogans of 'tolerance' have allowed such a riot to take place by allowing such a toxic mix of cultures to live side by side.
The battle against political Islam then takes two fronts: The Islamic fundamentalists themselves and the academic Left. Both must be confronted to defeat radical Islam.

I'm not surprised the Mohamad doesn't engage on this thread. Some of you seem just as angry as the protesters. Why this is so is worth a discussion in itself. Afterall, I don't remember this level of anger when unions committed acts of violence, for example during the waterside dispute, or the S11 protesters did the same thing. And we are all members of the relatively powerful groups in society.

Anyway, putting that to one side I suggested to Mohamad that he write a follow-up piece listing the grievances of the protesters and Islam in general.

I seem to be seeing a lot of protest actions in the west which occur without any clear list of demands, such as the Occupy movement, or the UK riots. Perhaps the Islamic riots are part of a more general social trend.