Scott Morrison criticised over call for imam accreditation and national register

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been condemned by leading Islamic groups after he called, while speaking at an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday, for a national register and accreditation for imams and for expanding foreign‑interference frameworks to capture foreign links in religious institutions.

Morrison, writing in The Australian and speaking on radio, said the measures were needed after the Islamic State‑inspired Bondi terror shooting that left 15 people dead and urged a focus on “radicalised extremist Islam”, saying the two alleged Bondi shooters “were Australian‑made”.

He called for “nationally consistent, self‑regulated standards: recognised accreditation for imams, a national register for public‑facing religious roles, clear training and conduct requirements, and enforceable disciplinary authority”, and for strengthened “safeguarding, financial accountability and scrutiny of overseas funding”.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) labeled Morrison’s remarks “reckless, deeply offensive and profoundly dangerous”, with AFIC president Dr Rateb Jneid saying the proposal was a “fundamental attack on religious freedom and equality before the law” and warning rhetoric like this “inevitably creates a divide between so‑called ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’ Muslims”.

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