An organiser of a national Islamic conference being held in Melbourne says the portrayal of Islamic State barbarism is being used to stir political fear.

Mustafa Abu Yusuf, a spokesman for the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Association of Australia (ASWJ), claimed the actions of Islamic State [also known as ISIL] were being "rammed down our throats" in a bid to paint fundamentalist Muslims as potential terrorists and curb civil freedoms.

But he also praised police who worked with the Muslim community on the ground.

Mr Abu Yusuf said he had not seen videos of the ISIL beheadings posted on social media - although he called the act abhorrent - but said the group's actions was "no more horrific" than those of Western armies during war.

He questioned why the Abbott government did not react with equally fierce rhetoric when chemical warfare was used and human rights abuses were committed in the Syrian civil war.