Articles by Irfan Yusuf


Why question defence force loyalty because of religion?

Our troops have a job to do. We should allow them to do it and not waste their or our own time with moronic speculations based on isolated incidents.

The difference between a terrorist and a terrorist

When is a terrorist deemed a genuine refugee who doesn’t pose any threat to Australia? When they’re not a Muslim, apparently. But what makes the Tamil Tigers any different to Hamas, Hezbollah or the Taliban?

Give us a break, the fake sheik’s not worth the effort

You’ve heard of tabloid media going after thick sheiks. Now some are even using fake sheiks. And even our PM is being questioned on whether their citizenship should be stripped.

Bradfield, the land of true maverick conservatives

All 20 candidates in this Saturday’s Bradfield preselection must be pondering one major question: exactly what do local Liberal Party preselectors in a safe seat look for in a candidate?

Bradfield preselection shows NSW Libs have changed

At this Saturday’s Bradfield preselection at the Hornsby RSL, one of the front runners will be a conservative who also happens to be openly gay, although Irfan Yusuf doubts that he’ll be wearing a skivvy.

A lesson in contrasts: how one riot was reported

Skin colour makes a huge difference on the language used, when it comes to how violent street riots are reported in the media. Better to be a London Nazi skinhead than a Sydney Lebanese Muslim.

Terrorism is about occupation, not religion

Why did these young Muslim men decide to kill thousands of people? Excerpts from their “martyrdom mission” video recordings all point to one simple theme: “Get out of our lands”.

The warped logic of banning al-Manar

There are many good arguments for and against allowing the Lebanese Hezbollah-run TV station al-Manar to be broadcast in Australia, writes : but those put forward by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council aren’t any of them.

Somali politics is just as much about clan as it is religion

Some reporting and analysis of today’s raids in The Oz of an alleged terrorist group showed a laughable ignorance of Somali and/or Muslim cultures.

Costello shows little faith in the possibilities of education

Peter Costello thinks Christian schools should only have Christian teachers. Perhaps he could learn a thing or two from many of Australia’s Muslim schools, says Irfan Yusuf.

NSW Libs at loggerheads as intra-factional action heats up

The NSW Liberals’ religious right want to roll back secularism. But if they do that, hey’ll effectively make the Party unelectable. They’ll also be answering Nathan Rees’ prayers.

Is Obama sucking up to Muslim and Arab nations?

Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana, his first tour of sub-Saharan Africa, didn’t please everyone, writes Irfan Yusuf.

Your unpronounceable surname could cost you that job

A new study has found wide-spread labour market discrimination against people with foreign names when applying for jobs in Australia.

Iranian elections: of mullahs, women and Jews

Iranian elections aren’t exactly perfect and neither is Iranian democracy, but Iran is far more democratic than other “moderate” states (as in pro-Western) in the Middle East, writes Irfan Yusuf.

Writers’ fest does blogging. Your thoughts?

To blog or not to blog? That was just one of the questions posed by moderator Rachel Hills to a panel of bloggers, journalists and one burnt-out ex-journalist at a Sydney Writers’ Festival gig on Sunday.