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Anti-terrorism agents question Australia's Muslim leader
* Victoria Police to interview ailing cleric* Ill-health prevented previous questioning * Fehmi praised Hezbollah as 'freedom fighters' COUNTER-TERRORISM authorities will quiz Australia's Muslim leader, Fehmi Naji El-Imam, over his support for Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists he has labelled "freedom fighters". The 79-year-old ailing cleric will be interviewed by Victoria Police as part of an investigation into dozens of people, mainly men in their 20s, with suspected affiliation to the terrorist group. The Australian understands counter-terrorism agents are interested in questioning Sheik Fehmi - who became mufti of Australia in June - over his public declaration of allegiance for Hezbollah during an anti-war demonstration last year. The authorities have not yet questioned the imam because of his ill health and the nature of the investigation, which is aiming to crack down on a suspected Hezbollah cell in Melbourne. Sheik Fehmi - a former senior member of the Howard Government's Muslim reference board - praised Hezbollah militants as "freedom fighters" on the steps of the Victorian parliament in front of more than 1500 people during an anti-war rally in Melbourne in July last year. Sheik Fehmi has courted controversy in the past, supporting - and later regretting - the Australian residency application of Abdul Nacer Benbrika, the Algerian-born, self-styled cleric in jail awaiting trial on terror charges. And in June this year, on his first day as mufti, he was reported to have questioned whether or not Osama bin Laden was really behind the September 11 attacks in the US in 2001. Sheik Fehmi will be asked by the authorities to express his views on Hezbollah and will be advised against supporting the group because his views may potentially influence impressionable young Muslims. While Hezbollah's military arm, External Security Organisation, is proscribed in Australia as a terror organisation, counter-terrorism authorities fear that some of the network's backers were exploiting terror laws that do not prohibit political support for the group. Last week, The Australian revealed that Victorian agents were analysing video footage and photographs taken at public meetings of Australian Muslims in support of Hezbollah. It was also revealed that authorities were investigating a suspected Hezbollah cell in Melbourne accused of spreading political ideologies and raising funds for its leadership in Lebanon. Sheik Fehmi, the head of Preston Mosque in Melbourne's north, is among several senior Muslims who have expressed their support for Hezbollah. Posted by: Oztralian 2007-12-16 |
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