Australian far right group ‘used me for propaganda’
When anti-Islam movement Reclaim Australia held rallies in Australia in November, Rahila Haidary attended the rally to represent her religion and find out what other “had against her religion”. At the rally Ms. Haidary was spotted by The United Patriots Front (UPF), a radical anti-Muslim group, who asked Rahila if she would speak and debate with them. Rahila agreed and listened “as they took turns telling her why her religion was evil.” Ms. Rahila remained civil and polite throughout the exchange. When the discussion was over she was asked to take a photo with the group, while hesitate she finally agreed. As she left the event she was harassed by other for being a Muslim.
You can image Ms. Haidary’s shock when later that evening the UPF posted the image to Facebook with a story telling their supporters that they had “educated” Ms. Haidary “after she had come down from a counter protest”. The UFP claimed that Ms. Haidary had agreed she might abandon her faith after conceding that the UFP members had a superior knowledge of the Koran. The UPF leader advocates for the teaching of Mein Kampf in schools.
Ms. Haidary is horrified that the UFP exploited the photo to try and soften their image. She sees no difference in the incorrect interpretation of the Koran by radical Islam and anti-Muslim radical groups stating, “I can’t actually differentiate between them.” As the article points out Ms. Haidary should know. When she was six her family lived in a Taliban ruled village in Afghanistan. At the time females were prohibited to attend school. She couldn’t see why boys could get an education, but women were required to stay home. So she dressed as a boy and went to school defying the Taliban. She states that as soon as she walked through the door all the boys knew. It took a little longer for her teacher to catch on. When he did he sent her home. The next day the Taliban visited her father and told him if he did not send Rahila away they would kille her. Her father sent her to Pakistan to live with relatives.
Kurmeloves, Royce. 2015. “Australian far right group ‘used me for propaganda’.” BBC News, November 2 9, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015 (http://www.bbc.co/news/world-australia-34918311l)