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Sheikh al-Hilali sez radical Australian clerics are Binnyâs followers
AUSTRALIAâS most senior Muslim leader has launched a scathing attack on Australiaâs radical Islamic clerics, accusing them of "following in the footsteps of Osama bin Laden". Sheikh Taj Din al-Hilali says fundamentalist clerics hold grudges against non-Muslim Australians and warns that their attitudes are harming the image of all 280,000 Muslims in the country. "I donât regard these people (fundamentalist clerics) as leaders, I look at them as adolescents," Sheikh Hilali told The Australian. "They want to appear they are following in the footsteps of bin Laden - they want that reputation, to appeal to simple Muslims, that they are people applying jihad. These people bring a rigid and incorrect understanding of Islam to Australia and they bring harm to their religion." Sheikh Hilaliâs comments are his strongest yet, and reflect growing tension between mainstream Muslim leaders and fundamentalist clerics. Fundamentalist Muslims, who adhere to a strict and conservative version of Islam, make up only a small proportion of Australiaâs Muslim population. Sheikh Hilali said the teachings of fundamentalist scholars - such as Sheikh Feiz Mohamad, who was profiled in The Weekend Australian on Saturday - were outside the boundaries of most Australian Muslims. "I appeal to them in the spirit of brotherhood to correct their information." Speaking at a festival to mark the end of Ramadan last month, Sheikh Hilali challenged Australian Muslims to "love this country or leave it". But Australiaâs most senior Islamic fundamentalist, Sheikh Mohammed Omran, has hit back, accusing Sheikh Hilali of "bringing hatred and dividing the community". Posted by: Dan Darling 2003-12-22 |
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