WEEKEND HERALD 26 APRIL 2014: FAR-RIGHT IN AUSTRALIA TARGETS MUSLIMS

Australia's violent far right has begun to stir again, targeting Muslims in a campaign that has erupted into conflict with Islamic radicals involving at least one shooting, death threats and intimidation. The worst of the anti-Muslim drive is led by the Australian Defence League, joining a small but widening base embracing the Australia First Party, a registered political party that contests local, state and federal elections, white supremacists, neo-Nazis and skinheads. A newly formed Australian branch of Greece's fascist Golden Dawn has been supported by Australia First. Golden Dawn has a history of violence, uses Nazi symbolism and regards Adolf Hitler as a "great personality". Australia's far right has drawn heavily on foreign mentors. The ADL grew from Britain's violently anti-Muslim English Defence League, with others linked to an international network of fascists and white supremacists. The domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said in its most recent report to federal Parliament that local groups were using protests to provoke violence, leading to "heightened tensions between anti-Islam groups and Islamist extremists". Asio and police are now investigating rising tensions between the ADL and Muslim groups after an internet and social media hate campaign, death threats and intimidation including public abuse of Muslims. READ MORE at: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11244781