From a One Nation kind of perspective, one of the most inconvenient truths about the Muslim population of modern Australia is that some of its forebears may have arrived here a century or more before any Christians showed up. Indeed, there is compelling archaeological evidence to suggest that as long ago as the mid 16th century Makassarese fishermen from the Indonesian archipelago were interacting peaceably with Aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders, who, allowed them to settle here – and to observe their strange faith – more or less unmolested.