(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - "I am angry, I am disappointed, I am going to do something about it,” Army Chief Lieutenant General David Morrison told reporters on Thursday, March 1, Australia’s Sky Newsreported.
ABC TV revealed that more than 1,000 former and current army soldiers wrote abusive and racist comments against Muslims, immigrants and women on a Facebook group.
Muslims were described by soldiers as "ragheads”.
There were also comments such as: "What do u do if u see a Muslim limping across your yard? Reload."
Other posts suggested that immigrants are not welcome and that women are filthy whore.
Hundreds of other expletive-riddled comments are un-publishable.
"The targeting of any person on the basis of their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation is repugnant and contrary to both Defense and Army's values," Morrison said.
The army chief said that an investigation was launched into the racist comments.
We are "already taking steps to determine if any serving members are linked to the offensive comments. Where they have been, I intend to take action to deal with them.”
"Where they have been I intend to take action to deal with them to the extent that our policies and the laws allows,” he said.
Defense Minister Stephen Smith also launched a range of reviews of defense culture to address ongoing concerns about inappropriate conduct.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before.
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