[FACT OR FAKE #73] Are ISIS Members Really "Marking" Christian Houses In Australia?
A 'warning' circulating via social media sites and text messages claims that members of the terror group ISIS are going door to door in Australia with a view to 'marking' Christian houses.
By Sadho Ram — 28 Sep 2014, 11:46 AM — Updated about 10 years ago
Recently, certain text messages claiming that members of ISIS, pretending to be charities, are going door-to-door in Australia and "marking" Christian houses went viral on social media. They calls for people to circulate the texts in private networks.
The message, which references areas in the south-west suburbs of Sydney, convinced enough people as last week tensions in Australia were raised by the shooting dead of terror suspect Abdul Numan Haider in Melbourne after he stabbed two police officers
An 18-year-old man shot dead by police officers in Melbourne on Tuesday night had made no specific threat in the lead-up to his death but was a “known terror suspect” and person of interest to security agencies and had displayed concerning behaviour, authorities said.
theguardian.com
The man from Narre Warren, who sources have named as Abdul Numan Haider, is alleged to have stabbed two officers – one from the Australian federal police (AFP) and one from Victoria police – as he arrived at Endeavour Hills police station in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, police said.
theguardian.com
While Islamic leaders have condemned threats ISIS has made against Australia and urged Muslims to assist the police, they have also expressed concern about a number of anti-Muslim incidents
The vandalism of the Rocklea Muslim prayer centre is the second defacing of a Muslim place of worship in Queensland in less than a week
Image via guim.co.ukPolice have charged a 34-year-old man over the painting of abusive messages on the walls of an Islamic prayer centre in Brisbane. On Wednesday evening residents of the Rocklea home discovered vandals had spray-painted the walls of some temporary buildings with the words “evil” and “die”, as well as “Muslims are evil and have no respect for our ways”, and “get the fuck out of our country”.
theguardian.com
Sheikh Abdul Azim, the president of the Australian National Imams Council, said: “There is some tension in the community. We want people to calm down, take it easy and when you see a Muslim man or woman, don’t think they are your enemy. They are innocent people.”
theguardian.com
So what's the deal here? Amidst all these reports of tensions brewing in Australia, do these text messages carry any truth? How much of it is FACT or FAKE?
FAKE: No, ISIS members are not "marking" Christian houses. But the hoax, apparently, became so huge that one of Australia's largest police departments was forced to issue a warning:
Pls RT - Don't be fooled by social media myths exploiting the current political climate. #mythbuster pic.twitter.com/Kc9PQn1Mha
— NSW Police (@nswpolice) September 26, 2014
In a tweet on Friday, New South Wales police included a picture of the offending text message with “FALSE” written in bold red letters across it. An accompanying message said: “Don’t be fooled by social media myths exploiting the current political climate.”
theguardian.com
Furthermore, spreading this false rumour is counterproductive, as it will only generate unnecessary fear and alarm - and increase tensions - within communities
The warning may also waste the time of law enforcement staff who must field enquiries about the supposed threat from concerned members of the public. It could also lead to unfair retaliation against innocent charity workers and door-to-door sellers. And, spreading such misinformation can make it less likely that genuine threats are taken seriously.
hoax-slayer.com