The hostage-taking at the Lindt chocolate cafe triggered a security lockdown in the heart of Australia's biggest city, with the government and Muslim leaders condemning the attack and calling for unity.
Amid uncertainty about the hostage-taker's motives and fears of reprisals after an Islamic flag was raised in the cafe, an Australian woman reportedly started the #illridewithyou hashtag to show solidarity with Muslims who might feel threatened on public transport.
"#373 bus between Coogee & Martin Place. #illridewithyou @ me if you just want to wear your headdress & not be bothered," @sirtessa tweeted.
Within hours, Australians around the country repeated the hashtag, with more than 40,000 tweets helping #illridewithyou become one of the top trends on the social media site.
Thanks for protecting my sisters #illridewithyou pic.twitter.com/Qy9l0lN1qB
— Angger (she/her) (@anggerwitasari) December 15, 2014
"I make a commitment, right now, to always say something when I see any kind of abuse on public transport. #illridewithyou," one user tweeted.
Another user in South Australia wrote, "If you wear religious attire, & need to get from #Adelaide's west suburbs to the city on Tues but don't want to travel alone #illridewithyou."
Others offered help beyond travel support: "I'm mostly housebound so Im not useful for #illridewithyou but if you're ever in tarneit VIC and need somewhere safe to hide out, contact me."
Australia's race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said he was heartened by the campaign, adding: "let's not allow fear, hatred and division to triumph."
https://twitter.com/KaelaJael/status/544424942792482816
Anti-Islam groups had earlier expressed outrage about the siege, with the Australian Defence League writing on Facebook: "Here it is folks, homegrown islamic terrorism in our backyard, courtesy of successive australian governments and their brainwashed voters."
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said officers were working with the Muslim community.
"Reprisal attacks are something that should not happen," he added.
More than 40 Muslim groups condemned the siege, saying in a statement that they rejected "any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instil fear and terror into their hearts".
COMMENTS (14)
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High time that Islam reformed itself into a modern secular way of life with respect for other religions and ways of lives...we don't live in a tribal medieval world anymore...we need equal rights for women, no dress restrictions, scientific temperament, ability to debate and accept other people's views, tolerance and move away from violent mindsets...
@Aviator: "And who is responsible for supporting and spreading this warped interpretation? Saudi Wahabiism. They have a programme of preaching and distributing these interpretations in Muslim countries and communities around the world. "
What exactly are the Saudis "warping"? Can you tell us, say, three things that they are warping?
@Sadik:
"Muslims are good, but religion needs to be reformed for 21st century"
I am confused. Muslims want the world to believe that there is nothing wrong with their religion and that it is peaceful and compassionate and that the holy books don't need any revision. They maintain that the problem is that some Muslims are not "good". You are saying exactly the opposite. Which is correct?
Thoughts and prayers go out to the people and families of all involved.
Our ANZACS fought for freedom, which was taken from innocent Australians at Martin Plsce Sydney yesterday.
We now must ALL regardless of religion or race, stand together to bring justice against extremists and ensure that this doesn't repeat itself.
Instead of these tweets and expressions of solidairty the irght course would have been for the muftis,mullhas and other leaders to have offered themselves in exchange for the hostages and then make the gun toting terrorist to surrender.No that wont happen becasue it is safe to offer suggestions and advice and be safe at homes,madrassahs and other secure places.
@Muslim: We need to find out why 'Muslims are diverting from Islam' and committing terrorism. There is a warped radical interpretation of Islam which is being spread by extremists, who prey upon vulnerable and impressionable people in society who they use to commit terrorism. And who is responsible for supporting and spreading this warped interpretation? Saudi Wahabiism. They have a programme of preaching and distributing these interpretations in Muslim countries and communities around the world. Unless something is done about this, we will only experience ever increasing levels of terrorism around the world.
@Shuaib wrote:
Isn't this what Musharraf wanted to do and then Lal Masjid happened. Oh well!!
The killer of Gov. Taseer confessed to his act and committed in front of dozens of people, still no justice served. If this happens to such a black and white case, how can you expect (hundreds of) thousands of people to be put behind jail for their hatred?
@Sadik: No needfor reform. All extremists must be imprisoned for life. They are cancer. All madaressas/mosques must be regulated.
The Pakistani Muslims should take the lead to transform Islam so that its burrs and jagged edges don't hurt Muslim & non-Muslim alike ... you guys are intelligent, you'll have the critical mass, you'll are in the right region, you'll have the benefit of learning from history (partition etc.) ... If your society can churn up the Taliban who want to take the world into the 10th century, surely your society can give rise to a group that wants to take the world into the 30th century!
All religions are good and if we respect all religions there will be no problem no religion teach to hate others ie live and let live.
@Sadik: Dear friend, Islam is perfect. But the Muslims are not. They usually divert from the teaching of Islam. Islam teaches us that to kill any innocent person, is like killing the whole of humanity. But Muslims divert from Islam and do such acts. Resulting in a bad name for the Religion.
Muslims are good, but religion needs to be reformed for 21st century, the repeatition of incidents cant be brushed aside.
We Muslims equally condemn this act of barbarism. #illridewithyou