MUSLIM leaders have appealed for calm amid claims that heavy- handed tactics were used during police raids across two states early yesterday morning.

The Mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, used Islamic radio to plead for patience among the community as Islamic leaders asked for more information about the operation.

And Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Ameer Ali said the community was afraid of a new wave of mistrust directed at Muslims from the wider community.

“(We) feel afraid that elements of the broader community might take the law into their own hands and attack members of the Muslim community,” Mr Ali said.

“The Government should provide protection for the Muslim community,” he said.

Sydney barrister Phillip Boulten SC, acting for the men arrested in Sydney, said the politicians who had made comments on the cases were treading on dangerous legal ground.

He said he would examine media reports of the comments of “various people in high office” to ensure whether what was said was “fair commentary or prejudicial to the interests of justice”.

One of Australia’s most respected moderate Muslim leaders, Sheik Fehmi Naji al-Imam, the leader of Victoria’s Preston mosque, said he was praying for thesafety of those arrested.

“We hope that nothing comes out to prove that they’ve done anything wrong,” he said.

Several residents of the houses raided in Sydney complained about a heavy-handed approach by police, who they said were rougher than they needed to be.

“All we saw was all these police officers on top of our heads,” said Mohammed’s sister-in-law Nada. “They are arrogant bastards, they treat people like animals. We are being persecuted for being Muslim.

“Imagine waking up with all these police officers over you. You can tell by the way the police were acting that these new terror laws have given them thefreedom to treat us like animals.”

Followers of controversial Sheik Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud were planning to offer help to the families of many of those who were arrested, but it is understood the accused did not have any links with Sheik Zoud’s Haldon Street prayer hall.

Sheik Zoud refused to comment on the raids.

A spokesman for the controversial Islamic political organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir Wassim Doureihi said no members of his organisation had been raided.

“We have not and I don’t expect that to be the case,” he said.

Mr Doureihi said the raids — completed under existing laws — showed new counter-terrorism laws being considered were “clearly not just targeted at those engaged in violence, they are targeted at those calling for political Islam” such as his organisation.

Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman Keysar Trad said he was annoyed that media appeared to have been notified of the locations of theraids.

“Things could have gotten out of hand today. There were scuffles. These could have all been avoided,” he said.

Lebanese Muslim Association spokesman Abdul El Ayoubi said his organisation had been flooded with calls from members expressing alarm that yesterday’s raids were targeted at Muslims rather than terrorists.