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Australian MP wants govât to act against mufti
A senior Liberal MP today urged the Federal Government to consider action against the leader of Australiaâs Muslims for praising Islamic suicide bombers and calling for a holy war against Israel. The Mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj Aldin Al-hilali, made the comments in recent sermons and interviews in Lebanon, according to an internet dispatch by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Christopher Pyne, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services, said he was appalled and horrified by Sheik Alhilaliâs alleged support for violence. But a spokesman for the Sydney-based Mufti said he had been taken out of context. According to MEMRI, the Mufti told an interviewer in Lebanon he supported suicide attacks by Muslim martyrs. "We are proud of the Islamic resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Kashmir...," Sheik Alhilali is reported to have said. "We support the resistance and support, with all our might, the martyrdom operations carried out by the Palestinian liberation movements, operations that are a legitimate act against the cruel occupation, according to all international norms and conventions."
| Uhuh... And what was the qualifying context? Looks pretty straightforward to me... |
The Mufti is also reported to have called in a sermon in Sidon for a jihad, or holy war, against Israel, adding: "The war waged by the US and Israel against the Muslims is a cruel war aimed at annihilating the (Islamic) nation." The Muftiâs spokesman in Sydney, Keysar Trad, said MEMRI had taken the Muslim leader out of context. "The Mufti is a proponent of peace and peaceful solutions to any conflict," he told ABC radio.
| "Except for when it comes to jihad, of course..." |
"I spoke to him today and he assured me that the context in which he made his message was not in the way that it was reported by these people." Mr Trad said the Mufti believed Muslim resistance fighters may target occupying military forces, but not civilians. He said the Mufti was not urging people to carry out suicide bombings.
"He is saying, letâs not condemn them because these people are making a major sacrifice to protect their country," said Mr Trad, of the Lebanese Muslim Association. Nor was the Mufti calling for a war against Israel.
| That's not the way his comments read... |
"He was not so much calling for a jihad in the nature of war, but in the nature of what will get that country to respect the United Nations resolutions." But Mr Pyne said the Muftiâs reported comments were a "very serious matter". "There is never any circumstances that mitigate violence and terror against civilians," he told ABC radio. "I am appalled, horrified and shocked.....by this newest example of Sheik Alhilaliâs extremism, which has no place in this country." Mr Pyne said the government should examine the Muftiâs comments to see what action should be taken against him. "Iâd be very surprised if there wasnât some kind of official response."
Posted by: TS & Tipper 2004-02-18 |
