Australia's first Muslim minister racially abused

Melbourne, July 2: Ed Husic,

's first Muslim minister was racially abused over social network soon after taking the oath of office on the Quran.

Forty-three-year-old Husic was appointed on Monday as a parliament secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and parliamentary secretary for broadband.

Husic said that he had made a "straightforward decision as someone of the Muslim faith" to take the oath on the Quran.

"I couldn't take my oath on a Bible and I didn't want to affirm. I am who I am and I just made a straightforward decision," he said.

Husic's facebook page was flooded with many comments saying that it was "disgusting" and "un-Autralian" for him to use the Quran for Oath taking purpose.

The attacks on his social media site were just "a natural part of democracy" and that "it's important that we not necessarily jump because of harsh words out of dark corners", he said.

Husic's family had migrated from Bosnia to Australia in the 1960s.

OneIndia News

(with PTI inputs)