The official Twitter account of the Australian navy's senior adviser on Islamic affairs has been shut down, just days after an anti-Islamic political party complained about tweets that were critical of the party.
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Captain Mona Shindy, who also heads the navy's guided missile frigate system program office in Canberra, is a 26-year veteran and until recently tweeted from the @navyislamic Twitter account.
The account disappeared some time before Christmas, days after the Australian Liberty Alliance said it had written to the Chief of Defence complaining of its content.
The ALA took issue with a tweet from the account which said, "Real shame to see these extreme ill informed fringe groups threatening #community #cohesion. #auspol #teamhumanrace".
In another tweet after Malcolm Turnbull claimed the prime ministership from Tony Abbott, Captain Shindy wrote, "Looking forward to a #PM that unites #auspol & #OZ".
Alliance president Debbie Robinson said she had written to Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin asking him to delete the tweets, because she was concerned Defence appeared to "be promoting pro-Islamic political views".
"It is completely unacceptable for an official Defence Twitter account to criticise any registered political party in Australia.
"This is military interference in Australia's democratic political process. It must stop."
In a statement to other media outlets, Defence said the @navyislamic account was shut down in an attempt to "consolidate" the navy's social media platforms.
However, a list of social media accounts published by Defence shows multiple official navy accounts still in operation, including that of Warrant Officer Martin Holzberger.
In a later statement provided to the Canberra Times, a spokesman for Defence said the use of social media by the navy was "continuing to develop".
"Some individual accounts will remain active due to the site not being solely managed by navy or branding arrangements such as with some sporting bodies such as the Australian Surf Rowers League, Team Navy as well as Navy Rugby Union," the spokesman said.
He added that other accounts would be reviewed shortly, and that a review of all navy branded sites was due early 2016, with recommendations on developing a "synchronised social media communications strategy".
In documents published on the ALA's website, the group lists stopping the Islamisation of Australia, as well as smaller government and "integration over separation" as key policy areas.
As the navy's strategic adviser on Islamic cultural affairs Captain Shindy "works to help create a better understanding among Defence members of the Islamic faith, traditions and cultural sensitivities", her online profile says.
Last year, she was awarded the NSW businesswoman of the year award for her work overseeing a $130 million budget for the maintenance of frontline warships.
She also won a government and academia award for her dedication pushing diversity and cultural change in Defence.
