Demonizing ISIL and Defending Muslims: Australian Muslim Citizenship and Tony Abbott's “Death Cult” Rhetoric

Abstract

In the lead-up to Australia committing military resources and personnel to the coalition opposing the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL), Prime Minister Tony Abbott consistently categorized the al-Qaeda splinter group as a "death cult." Examining Abbott's official rhetoric on ISIL and the threat it poses to Australia and the world, this article argues that his use of the term "death cult" reflects patterns in Western political demonology and demonizing enemies, namely, creating adversaries as monsters by highlighting the atrocities they commit in order to garner support for (often lethal) actions against them. In traditional political demonology, establishment representatives often target minority or marginal groups as these pariahs. However, in demonizing ISIL, Abbott deliberately made distinctions between it and its members and the majority of Muslims, including Australian Muslims, and utilized political demonology differently. In so doing, he affirmed this religious minority's status within the parameters of Australian citizenship. This is indeed commendable. However, Abbott rarely mentioned Muslims outside of references to terrorism. Despite the fact that Abbott acknowledges that only a comparative handful of Muslims are indeed violent, he has not yet fully engaged with the broader notions of Australian Muslims' contributions to Australian society and their citizenship.

State–Media Consensus on Going to War? Australian Newspapers, Political Elites, and Fighting the Islamic State

“… 30. Kenny, “War on ‘Death Cult.’” For more on Tony Abbott’s rhetorical characterizations of the Islamic State, see Lentini (2014). …”

Muslim Community Organizations’ Perceptions of Islamophobia: Towards an Informed Countering Response

“…At the international level, many European countries declared the failure or death of multiculturalism among a rise of populism and anti-immigration/anti-Islam political parties within the government (Busbridge 2017;Lentin and Titley 2011). Although Australia did not reach the extent of Europe's dismay, changes in the national public discourse are noticeable in the negative media coverage of Muslims and the growing national interest in governing and examining Muslims' identity, religiosity, integration and citizenship in relation to "Australian values" (Hage 2011;Humphrey 2010;Mansouri 2020;Yasmeen 2010;Akbarzadeh 2016;Lentini 2015;Rane et al 2014;Kabir 2006). This section argues that MCOs perceive these changes and the government's course of action towards Muslims as a disruption to an idealistic egalitarian multicultural policy and, hence, an embodiment of Islamophobia.…”

Conversion to Islam

“…Muslim Converts, Panics and Australian Citizenship investigated press coverage of two white Australian converts to Islam, David Hicks and Peter Roche, analysing the frequency of words in headlines and articles. 49 Lentini makes crucial points regarding discourses around conversion, notably the act of converting questions one's loyalty to a country. Becoming a Muslim allows a person to transcend the confines of national borders, to be a part of the global Muslim community, but when drawing on converts' personal history and alleging that converts reject their societies, it can be illustrated the relationship between the convert and broader society is one where active mistrust replaces active trust between citizens.50 While Lentini identifies the Australian media did not construct the two converts as moral panics, the article demonstrates that media framing of converts to Islam in association with security concerns can have substantial impacts on how wider society perceives them.…”