THE cloud of suspicion that hung over all Muslims and Arabs in Australia would be lifted by the arrests yesterday in Sydney and Melbourne, a leading Muslim group said.

Australian Arabic Council secretary Martin Hosking described the arrests as a “step forward, in the sense that matters which have been bubbling along in themedia are now firmly in the hands of the courts”.

“We, like all Australians, welcome these arrests if they can improve our security and we support the actions of the authorities in this regard,” Mr Hosking said.

“In some quarters, there has been a cloud of suspicion hung over all Arab Australians and Muslims (and) to the extent the arrests will help to dissipate this cloud, they are to be particularly welcomed.”

The president of Islamic Charity Projects Association in Australia, Ghayath Al-Shelh, said it was a mistake for Islamic leaders to complain about the arrests.

“I believe Muslims have suffered enough in the past from the acts of extremist groups,” Dr Al-Shelh said. “These arrests, and the anti- terror laws, will provide protection for the people.”

Other Muslim leaders said they were concerned a new wave of mistrust from the wider community would be generated.

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

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

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.

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.

Followers of the controversial Sheik Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud were planning to offer help to the families of many of those who were arrested.

However, 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.

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, Mr Doureihi 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.

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

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