Just two weeks ago the Australian government stepped up its national security efforts by appointing two new counter-terrorism coordinators; one working on external relations and the other on home-grown threats. Like many countries worldwide, Australia is struggling to deal effectively with its citizens who are joining the radical movement ISIL. These governments fear the involvement of their citizens in the gross violations of human rights in Syria and Iraq but also anticipate the very real possibility of these same citizens will return home with a radical political agenda. Australia is working to strengthen or create laws to criminalise these activities while also engaging the Muslim community in a variety of ways. But at least one person believes the Australian government has misunderstood the problem. 

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.