The debate was ignited by the publication yesterday of Mr Howard's long-held concerns that "raving on about jihad" by a minority of the Islamic community and the conservative attitudes towards women were two problems that Australia had not faced with previous immigrant groups.
Mr Howard revealed his thoughts in an interview with The Australian for The Howard Factor, a book to be published next week to mark the 10th anniversary of his rise to power.
"I stand by those comments," Mr Howard said in Sydney yesterday.
"These attitudes are not typical of all Muslims but they do represent the attitudes of a small section of the Islamic population and there's no point in not saying so.
"I hope it will encourage the broader Islamic community to understand that it is an issue."
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