DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: MOSLEM CLERIC THAT DEMANDED JIHAD IN HIS SERMONS PRACTICES TAQIYYA

Australian Muslim cleric claims jihad remarks were misunderstood

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — A radical Australian cleric who sparked outrage by encouraging children to sacrifice their lives for Islam has claimed his remarks were misinterpreted, as Muslim leaders were divided Friday in their reaction.

Sheik Feiz Mohammed, head of the Global Islamic Youth Center in western Sydney, was swiftly condemned Thursday by government leaders across Australia over a series of video lectures, in which he urged children to become “soldiers defending Islam” and sacrifice their lives for Allah.

“Teach them this: There is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a mujahid,” or holy warrior, the cleric said in the videos. “Put in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom.”

The Australian Federal Police said they would investigate whether Mohammed had breached laws against sedition and was inciting violence or terrorism.

However, in an interview published Friday in The Australian newspaper, Mohammed said his words had been misconstrued.

“The jihad I speak of is not one of violence,” he was quoted as saying. “It is one of personal struggle against things like mischievousness, temptation and personal harm.”

“I don’t believe in suicide bombing. I don’t believe in violence against others,” he said. “We denounce that. This is not Islamic law and it is not moral.”

Mohammed also said in the interview he regretted implicitly referring to Jews as pigs in the videos, which were recorded in 2002 following the release of photographs showing bloody clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.

“That remark was made in the heat of the moment and I regret it,” he said. “It was not something I should have said and is not something I believe.”

Several Muslim leaders have sought to distance themselves from his comments.

Keysar Trad, head of the Islamic Friendship Association, said the jihad remarks might have been misinterpreted, but he conceded that they were not helpful to Australian Muslims.

[Of course they are not helpful...Australians learning about the "enemy within" and exactly what that enemy (moslems) thinks of them is not helpful to the enemy...Moslems certainly wouldn't want to be scrutinized, because their little jihadist & global caliphate goals may be stopped by angry & free infidels...Must keep the infidels ignorant and stupid, until it is too late...ed. A.I.]

Mohammed is the latest of several Muslim leaders to spur controversy in Australia, widening a cultural divide between the majority of Australians and the country’s Muslim minority, which has been criticized for failing to suppress its extremist fringe.


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