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Sheik al-Hilaly is here to stay
AUSTRALIA'S senior Muslim cleric cannot be sacked or deported despite the outrage caused by him saying immodestly dressed women invite sexual attacks. Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilaly yesterday unreservedly apologised for any offence caused to women by his comments, made in a Ramadan sermon last month. But he said he had been misunderstood and added: I had only intended to protect women's honour The mufti of Australia and New Zealand was last night under intense pressure from within the Muslim community over the sermon in which he likened scantily-dressed women to uncovered meat eaten by animals. Many Muslim leaders and groups yesterday distanced themselves from his remarks and some called for their religious figurehead to stand down. Five Muslim leaders at Gallipoli Mosque in Sydney's west said many Muslims were sick and tired of religious leaders like Sheik al-Hilaly claiming to speak on their behalf. Whether he steps down or not, I think it's time for Australia's Muslim faith to have a religious leader who has a better understanding of Australian laws, Australian values, and the Australian way of life, said Alia Karaman, one of three women in the group. A former member of the Federal Government's Muslim Advisory board, Iktimal Hage-Ali, said she had listened to a recording of Sheik al-Hilalys speech and believed he should be stripped of his position. I was just flabbergasted, she told ABC radio. Prime Minister John Howard labelled Sheik al-Hilalys comments appalling and reprehensible. They are quite out of touch with contemporary values in Australia. The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous. Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward suggested the sheik be dumped or deported, saying: I think it is time he left. But, as an Australian citizen, the mufti cannot be deported and in his position as Islam's most senior religious figure in Australia, he is not answerable to any organisation. The Egypt-born imam came to Australia in 1982 and cannot have his citizenship revoked. He was appointed mufti by Australia's peak Islamic body, the Federation of Islamic Councils of Australia (FICA), 15 years ago, but no-one has the authority to sack him. Nobody can sack him because it's not an elected position, said Amir Ali, the chairman of the Prime Minister's Muslim Community Reference Group and immediate past president of FICA.
Sheik al-Hilaly yesterday appeared badly affected by the backlash to his remarks, with a spokesman saying he was depressed and confined to bed all day, breathing with the assistance of an oxygen tank. Posted by: Oztralian 2006-10-27 |
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