Australian ex-football player in hot water after ‘Muslim colonizing’ comments
Australian sports commentator and former Aussie rules football player Sam Newman has been lashed on social media following his comments on Muslim migrants, who he said have “colonized” the continent.
Talking on his weekly Australian Football League (AFL) podcast on Wednesday, Newman slammed the league for staging a show of solidarity last week in response to an inflammatory speech in parliament by Senator Fraser Anning.
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The lawmaker had called for a ban on Muslim immigration and a return to the White Australia policy.
Last Friday, the AFL’s highest-profile Muslim players Adam Saad and Bachar Houli hugged each other in a display of multicultural inclusion before the coin toss ahead of the Essendon-Richmond clash in Melbourne.
Given what's been going on over the ditch this week, this is an important photo. Bachar Houli and Adam Saad, both Muslim, joined their captains for the coin toss before tonight's AFL match between Richmond and Essendon. ❤️(📷 Michael Willson/AFL Media) pic.twitter.com/ODIEyTWYak
— Xas (@_Xas_) 17 августа 2018 г.
“They [Muslims] don’t generally nationalize, they colonize,” Newman said, adding that the Muslim community doesn’t share common values with Australian society.
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“There are 600,000 Muslims in Australia, they share no common interest with what we’re on about. They have no common values, they preach to a different, deity, god. This has been a huge problem in Europe and it’s beginning to be a huge problem in America,” he said.
His inflammatory comments triggered public outcry on social media, with many users accusing the former AFL star of racism and discrimination.
That the sight of two Australian #Muslim men hugging on a footy field as a sign of love, unity and peace would be seen as a threat by Sam Newman shows you the underbelly of racism & bigotry in our nation that is alive and well. We remember what he did to Nicky Winmar too. Trash.
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) 22 августа 2018 г.
Some internet users wrote that they “don’t share Newman’s common values,” adding that Newman had “confirmed his bigotry” by attacking Muslim Australians.
Dear Sam Newman, I'm a Muslim Australian & proud Geelong supporter. As a kid I idolised you. I remember watching you run out for your 300th game for .@GeelongCats & I was thrilled. I thought we shared a common interest. Suffice to say I'm saddened for you. #StandProud#Auspolpic.twitter.com/BDMIDAyQu9
— Ahmed Bise (@BiseAhmed) 22 августа 2018 г.
I’m not a Muslim and I share no common values with Sam Newman and I have no idea what he is on about half the time. He adds no value to the Australian or AFL communities.
— Dragonet (@Dragonet_WA) 22 августа 2018 г.
Sam Newman shares no common interest with me. Yet the dozens of Muslims that I have met have all shown me respect, kindness and generosity.
— Mark Ritchie (@viduka1969) 22 августа 2018 г.
However, some people supported Newman's views on the Muslim community, saying that he and Anning were right.
Speaking as chinese descent born and grew up in indonesia, the muslims are bulli. From what I know, they simply dont integrate or accept others ideology. Australian will regret letting more of them in. I agree with Sam Newman and Fraser Anning. @7NewsSydney@Channel9@smh@SBS
— - (@cygnvolv) 22 августа 2018 г.
I see Sam Newman is under attack by.....everyone. He's right, and I agree with him. Feel free to attack me.
— Lilac de Tremelay ❌ (@LilacInfidelus) 22 августа 2018 г.
And should social and political agendas be brought into the @AFL? Sam Newman is right.
— Gov Rex (@rex_inspector) August 21, 2018
