A forum in Sydney’s west has been told that Australia has a lot to learn before it understands the concept of Muslim radicalisation.

The forum, Countering the Radicalisation of Muslim Youths, was held last night at the University of Western Sydney’s Parramatta campus, attracting a capacity crowd of students, community leaders and academics.

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Keyser Trad has concerns for Muslim youth. Photo: AAP

The keynote speaker was Keysar Trad, who has long been outspoken about issues relating to Australia’s Muslim community.

Mr Trad told the forum some mainstream media outlets were pushing young Muslims to “the margins of society”.

“Sections within the Australian media and sections within the international media have created an industry out of Islamophobia,” Mr Trad said.

Although he began his speech by telling the crowd that the group Islamic State “is neither Islamic, nor can it be described as a state”, Mr Trad also said he understood why the blood in some young Muslims “boils”.

“Joining ISIS is not the solution,” he said.

One young Muslim woman questioned Mr Trad’s remarks, telling the forum that her family was persecuted in Iraq and she was bullied during her childhood in Australia, yet she did not feel the need to become radicalised.