Mr Husic became Australia’s first Muslim frontbencher on Monday when he was appointed to Kevin Rudd’s new-look ministry.
“This is a wonderful day for multiculturalism, and everything it stands for in our country,” Governor-General Quentin Bryce told Mr Husic during the swearing-in ceremony in Canberra.
Dozens of Facebook users expressed disgust and outrage that he had used the Muslim holy book reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Our allegiance should have been to Queen and Country first Ed. That means saying the oath on the holy bible not the Koran…. Shame, Shame, Shame,” posted one user, Ross Peace. “I am so disappointed in this government that they don’t have the spine to stand up for the Australian way of life.”
Another user, Therese Pearce, said “Hell i might just have to use snow white and the 7 dwarfs next time i take the oath for australia,” she posted.
Mr Husic took the reaction in his stride, saying that people were entitled in a democracy to question his choices.
‘‘[People] may have questions and they may have concerns and people are right to raise that,’’ he said. ‘‘But I also think you’ll have, from time to time, people of the extremes. There are people that are definitely extreme … and they will always try to seek ways in which to divide people. The important thing is [that] mainstream Australia wants everyone to work together.’’
Below is an example of the kind of interactions many Australians encountered on social media.
Image via Getty
