Carson family “gutted” by Telegraph article

Mohammad Carson wanted to set the record straight on the article printed in Friday’s Telegraph which was labelled “misleading” and “inaccurate” by Young’s civic leaders.

He said the reporters turned up on their doorsteps, telling them they wanted to write a story on the success of the small, but significant Muslim community in Young.  

“I’m totally gutted and disgusted, totally shocked from the impression that these guys gave us in my heart,” he said. 

“I feel like there were two radical, extreme reporters who came to a country town to put terror into the hearts of the country folk.

“I’ve got to ask the question here, who’s the terrorist here? Who is spreading the terror and the hate? Their intention was directly to come here and cause trouble…Was it wearing a bit thin in Sydney?”

Mohammad said his jaw dropped when he read the article on Friday morning and was concerned about the community’s reaction. 

“We chatted away for almost two hours and they just handpicked 20 seconds’ worth of reading and come in like thunder,” he said. 

He said above all he respected Australian law and only wished to give another perspective on sharia law which he thinks is largely misunderstood.

He said a lot of information about Islamic teaching was often lost in translation. 

“The problem with the media is they pick up their information with misinterpretation from English translations of the Koran, this is why us Muslims are told we have to learn Arab,” Mohammad said. 

“…An example, [the Koran] says to beat your children if they are not practicing by the age of 10…When I read that, I was like “what?”, I was horrified…[but] the word should be mildly disciplined – example, after school there will be no cartoons…or there will be no sweets after dinner.

“If you were to understand sharia law completely, which I don’t completely even myself…but if Australians learn about Sharia Law..they may be willing to accept it.”

Mohammad and wife Ferna said the Koran teaches that Muslims must abide by the laws in the country they are residing. 

“Of course we abide by these laws, if we did not like these rules, then we could leave at any time…we abide by local laws and so we should,” he said

“If Muslim doesn’t follow what the government rule, they are not a real Muslim,” Ferna said. 

 While he was quoted saying he would marry off his 13-year-old daughter, the reality, Mohammad said, is much more complex. 

He said the prospect was already “out the window” as it is not permissible under Australian law, but if it was, and a suitable partner was found, his daughter would live with him until she was at least 18 but know she was committed to someone. 

“(If we found someone appropriate) we would approach my daughter and say, we think this boy would be good for you in the future, what is your opinion?” Mohammad said. 

“If my daughter disagreed, it’s finished it would not go ahead.”

He also wanted to clarify his 13-year-old daughter does not wear the niqab – despite a photo of him and his wife miss-labelled as him and his daughter.

Mohammad and Ferna said Young was the most accepting place they have lived in.

While Ferna receives stares when she walks down the street in Sydney – and even when she goes back to her native Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation – she feels nothing but warmth in Young.

“Today I went to Tafe…all the friends in class they just cuddle and calm me down, in Young I have no problem,” she said. 

“I’m so happy living here in Young, it’s like family…we help each other.

“I feel more special...with the niqab, the fruit shop at the front, they even carry my shopping bags to the car...they’re welcoming. Even when I go to Big W, they end up knowing me because not much people wearing the niqab.”

Mohammad, who has lived in Young for 30 years, said the response from the community has been “beautiful”.

“99 per cent or 98 per cent of the community in Young that know me is all supportive, they know me, they’ve interacted with me…they know me from my early days and my characteristics are not much different except I don’t drink alcohol and these days I pray,” he said.