Anglican dean blames Islam for rise of Islamic State

By Eryk Bagshaw
Updated September 19 2014 - 7:08am, first published 6:17am
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema
Anglican Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to Sydney. Photo: Toby Zema

The Anglican Dean of Sydney, Phillip Jensen, has described Islam as "false" and attacked the religion for the rise of Islamic State.

"It's time to face the truth that Islam itself is part to blame," Dean Jensen wrote last week in his blog titled "From the Dean".

"Islam is false." 

Despite the possibly inflammatory comments, the Sydney Anglican Church has stood behind the 70-year-old minister's comments.

"The Dean was at pains to point out that Australia does not want the religious diversity of our own nation to be inflamed into conflict," a spokesman said.

"There is nothing remarkable in stating the fact that the ISIS militants claim to be Islamic."

The article in the blog, which is published as part of Dean Jensen's role at St Andrews Cathedral, also criticised US President Barack Obama.

Dean Jensen's criticism centred on Mr Obama's decision to separate his criticism of the Islamic State from a critique of Islam.

"They are waging war in the name of Islam and in accordance with their Islamic beliefs," Dean Jensen said.

"They wish to create the Caliphate. Their commitment is more than a power grab for land – it is a religious zeal and if we ignore it, we will seriously underestimate them." 

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has been contacted for comment. 

Dean Jensen is the brother of former Anglican archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen. 

The outgoing Dean, who is due to step down from his role next year, is no stranger to controversy. 

He has previously described Mother Teresa as an instrument of the devil and Prince Charles as an adulterer.

In 2011, he came under criticism for comments that described Muslims as "loved slaves of Allah". 

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