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Moriel Ministries > Teachings > Discernment |
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Australian Imams Stand By Outspoken Muslim Leader Daily Times, Pakistan CANBERRA: A meeting of Australia’s imams has given the outspoken spiritual leader of the country’s Muslims an extra three months in his job, angering the government. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C27%5Cstory_27-3-2007_pg7_19 Hilali re-endorsed as mufti About 60 imams decided after meetings that went on in the south-western Sydney suburb of Lakemba for most of the day to reinstate Sheik al-Hilali as Australia's mufti for the next three months. "The present position of the mufti shall stay for the next three months at least until the muslims of Australia decide on how to take this thing forward," a spokesman for the imams Dr Mohamad Abdalla told reporters. Sheik al-Hilali caused uproar last year when he compared women to "uncovered meat". He then compounded the controversy by later disparaging Australia's convict heritage, saying Muslims had a better right to be in Australia than people brought here in chains. Sheik al-Hilali's spokesman Keysar Trad said a group had been formed today to nominate a committee of six imams, which would vote on a new mufti later this year. "A committee has been formed to go through the position of mufti for the future," Mr Trad said. "Firstly to nominate a committee to give religious rulings, and then in due course vote for a mufti." http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hilali-reendorsed-as-mufti/2007/03/25/1174761279784.html Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd criticise the decision Rudd backs Howard on Hilaly AUSTRALIA'S high-ranking Islamic clerics have shown they are out of touch with the mainstream by allowing Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali to remain as spiritual leader, says Prime Minister John Howard. Labor leader Kevin Rudd has also condemned the move, saying it was "wrong". Mr Howard said today that while the imams had the right to appoint whoever they wanted as mufti, they had shown they were out of touch with mainstream Australia by re-endorsing a man who compared women to uncovered meat. "Australia's Muslim leadership should not be taking any decision which allows someone like Elhilaly, who's gone out there and defended pack rapists, to remain as Mufti of Australia, even if it's for another three months.'' Mr Rudd's stance aligned with that of Mr Howard, who added: "The remarks he made about women, the remarks he made in Egypt about who's higher up in the hierarchy of Australian-ness and all those sorts of things, his reference to convicts, his reference to who is more entitled to call themselves Australians - all of those things were totally out of touch with mainstream Australian sentiment. "And all I can say is the failure of the community to do something more decisive about this is damaging the image of Islamic Australians as part of our community." Spokesman Dr Mohamad Abdalla said the conference formed a board of 15 which would consult the wider Muslim community to form a council of fatwa. The council would then choose a new mufti. "They gave an interim of three months to form this new council, which will be made up of people nominated by all the various states," Dr Abdalla said. "At the end of the three months, or once this is formulated, then the council will look at the issue." After attending the meeting, Sheik Hilaly was last night on an airline waiting list to go to Niger in Africa for an Islamic ceremony. One of the mufti's last overseas visits was a public relations disaster after he claimed Muslims had more right to live in Australia than convict descendants, in an interview on Egyptian television. Yesterday Dr Abdalla gave a strong signal the next mufti would be chosen on their ability to keep good relations with the broader Australian society. "The person must be qualified in the Islamic legal aspects, but also one must be able to communicate in the English language, and also be aware of the social, economic, and political context of Australia," he said. "Whoever the mufti is must be absolutely careful in the statements that he makes." Tom Zreika of the Lebanese Moslems Association said until a new mufti was chosen the council would "dilute" the influence of the Sheik. Muslim leader Dr Jamal Rifi said the mufti's comments had been offensive and his defence that he was taken out of context was without foundation. Islamic clerics are out of touch: PM SMH Islamic clerics are damaging their community by allowing Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali to remain the spiritual leader of Australian Muslims, says Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard says the clerics have the right to appoint whoever they want. But they have shown they are out of touch with mainstream Australia by re-endorsing a man who compared women to uncovered meat, he says. "They're exercising their right, it's not our power or right to appoint religious leaders. But I think they're doing their community damage," Mr Howard told Sky News. "I remain very strongly of the view that they're very much out of touch with community sentiment." About 60 imams decided after meetings in the south-western Sydney suburb of Lakemba on Sunday to reinstate Sheik Alhilali as Australia's mufti for the next three months. Sheik Alhilali caused uproar last year when he compared women to "uncovered meat". He then compounded the controversy by later disparaging Australia's convict heritage, saying Muslims had a better right to be in Australia than people brought here in chains. "The remarks he made about women, the remarks he made in Egypt about who's higher up in the hierarchy of Australian-ness and all those sorts of things, his reference to convicts, his reference to who is more entitled to call themselves Australians - all of those things were totally out of touch with mainstream Australian sentiment," Mr Howard said. "And all I can say is the failure of the community to do something more decisive about this is damaging the image of Islamic Australians as part of our community." Mr Howard said he did not have a view on who should be mufti, just as he did not say who should be the Catholic archbishop of Melbourne or the Anglican archbishop of Sydney. "That's a matter for the religious grouping," he said. "But I can express a view as to what I think the impact will be - and I think the impact of this decision will be extremely negative." Muslim leaders wrong on al Hilaly: Rudd About 60 imams decided after meetings in the south-western Sydney suburb of Lakemba yesterday to reinstate Sheik Hilaly as Australia's mufti for the next three months. Sheik Hilaly caused uproar last year when he compared women to "uncovered meat". He then compounded the controversy by later disparaging Australia's convict heritage, saying Muslims had a better right to be in Australia than people brought here in chains. " Australia's Muslim leadership have got this wrong," Mr Rudd told reporters in Canberra today. "Australia's Muslim leadership should not be taking any decision which allows someone like al Hilaly, who's gone out there and defended pack rapists, to remain as mufti of Australia, even if it's for another three months." Imams out of touch with Australia, says PM The Australian AUSTRALIA'S high-ranking Islamic clerics have shown they are out of touch with the mainstream by allowing Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali to remain as spiritual leader, says Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard said today that while the imams had the right to appoint whoever they wanted as mufti, they had shown they were out of touch with mainstream Australia by re-endorsing a man who compared women to uncovered meat. "They're exercising their right, it's not our power or right to appoint religious leaders. But I think they're doing their community damage," Mr Howard said on Sky News. "I remain very strongly of the view that they're very much out of touch with community sentiment." About 60 imams decided yesterday to reinstate Sheik Hilali as Australia's mufti for at least the next three months, before deciding on the future of the role. Sheik Hilali caused uproar last year when he compared women to "uncovered meat". He then disparaged Australia's convict heritage, saying Muslims had more right to be in Australia than those brought here in chains. "The remarks he made about women, the remarks he made in Egypt about who's higher up in the hierarchy of Australian-ness and all those sorts of things, his reference to convicts, his reference to who is more entitled to call themselves Australians - all of those things were totally out of touch with mainstream Australian sentiment," Mr Howard said. "And all I can say is the failure of the community to do something more decisive about this is damaging the image of Islamic Australians as part of our community." Mr Howard said he did not have a view on who should be mufti, just as he did not say who should be the Catholic archbishop of Melbourne or the Anglican archbishop of Sydney. "That's a matter for the religious grouping," he said. "But I can express a view as to what I think the impact will be - and I think the impact of this decision will be extremely negative." http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21445235-1702,00.html Media articles prior to the meeting - predicting the Sheik would not be re-appointed mufti! Clerics to decide on Hilali's future as mufti Saturday, 24 March 2007 The future of Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilali as a mufti is being considered. The event is being hosted by the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), which runs the mosque. In the lead-up to the event, LMA president Tom Zreika had received abuse and threats of violence for suggesting how Islamic religious leaders could improve their standing in the community. "There's quite a few critics, but what were calling on these imams to do, if they have any opinions [is] to voice them, if they want to run for the office, put your hand up," he said. "They've got an incredible responsibility and we're going to be criticised immensely if no one says anything." Ahead of this meeting, Mr Zreika released some 16 pages of ideas for the Imams to better communicate and integrate into the wider Australian community. He has already advocated for the Australian flags to be flown outside all places of religious worship. Now he has suggested Imams join community organisations such as lifesaving clubs or rural firefighters. Muslims endorse radical Oz cleric Dispatch A MUSLIM cleric who whipped up a storm last year when he told his Sydney flock that women who didn’t wear the veil invited rape has been endorsed as the supreme leader of Australia’s 300000 Muslims. Prime Minister John Howard last year urged Muslims to dump al-Hilali, as did New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma. Earlier this year, al-Hilali raised the ire of Australians when he said Muslim migrants had a greater entitlement to the country than those who arrived at the time of colonial settlement. “We came as free people, we bought our own tickets, we are entitled to Australia more than they are,” al-Hilali told a television station in his native Egypt. Howard called on Muslims to show a willingness to join the mainstream by ditching their controversial leader. Al-Hilali, an Australian citizen, has been censured before for his extremist views and each time the Muslim community has closed ranks behind him. Al-Hilali has denied the Holocaust, defended suicide bombers, described as “God’s work against oppressors” the 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, and blamed Jews for “all the wars and problems that threaten the peace and stability of all the world”. The show of support for al-Hilali is likely to draw further demands that Australian Muslims reaffirm their commitment to democracy, freedom of religion and the rule of law. Tom Zreika, president of the powerful Lebanese Muslim Association, said he expected the vote to keep al-Hilali would be controversial. — Sapa-DPA Australian Muslims to elect new Mufti AM - Saturday, 24 March , 2007 08:18:49 ELIZABETH JACKSON: There is another election this weekend, for one of the most important positions in Australia's Muslim community, that of Mufti. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1880383.htm Imams to vote on future of Hilaly SMH AUSTRALIA 'S Islamic leaders meet in Lakemba today to decide who will be the next mufti. Controversial Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly will open the meeting of more than 50 clerics from across the country at the first meeting of the Australian National Imams Council. Top of the agenda will be whether Sheik Hilaly will remain as mufti, a position he helped create and has held since 1989. His outspoken beliefs have alienated many within the Muslim community and there has been at least one other person nominated to stand against him. He caused outrage last year by comparing women in revealing clothes to pieces of uncovered meat and later went on to ignore community attempts to gag him. Sheik Hilaly's close friend Keysar Trad said: "He enjoys the respect and backing of many imams in Australia, regardless of recent controversies, because he is a scholar of international renown. It is a pity his English is not so good. "There are very few other imams in Australia who have reached his level of knowledge and international experience. But whatever is decided he is happy to abide by it and would support another person if elected." Lebanese Muslim Association president Tom Zreika has drafted a report suggesting the way forward for Australian Muslims in which he calls for greater integration. "It would be great to see a turbanned imam fighting fires alongside other Bush Fire Service volunteers. Organisations like the Surf Life Saving Association, Clean Up Australia Day initiative, State Emergency Services and any other worthwhile causes should be joined as a matter of course by the imam and his followers," he wrote. In the report he also wrote that the views of some Muslims are "ruining it" for all and that many Australians have "had enough" of Muslims. "Let me be very clear. If an imam finds it impossible to comply with the laws of this country (and justifies its breach), then they should leave Australia altogether," he wrote. After details of the report were published Mr Zreika had to seek police protection following a series of death threats. Last week Mr Zreika explained the motivation behind the formation of the council and the report. "All we want to do is bring the two communities together because there is really very little difference between us," he said. "I have done everything I can do. We have set up the Australian National Imams Council, we have drafted the constitution for reform to happen." The choice of Australia's top cleric lay in the hands of the imams. "If people want to re-elect the Sheik then that's their choice," he said. Source: The Sun-Herald At http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/imams-to-vote-on-future-of-hilaly/2007/03/24/1174597951840.html Other comments on Sheik Al Hilali A 'background' piece by Irfan Yusuf, Sydnbey Muslim lawyer... http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1813_0_25_0_M And the classic piece from ci-ce-ct http://is.ci-ce-ct.com:85/Feature%20articles/20-11-2001.asp FAIR USE NOTICE: This Site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been
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