DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: RELIGIOUS ROWS - CULPRITS?!? MOSLEMS

Australian Muslim cleric sparks religious row
By Michael Perry

Sydney - An Australian Muslim cleric has urged children to be martyrs for Islam and referred to Jews as pigs in a series of DVDs, sparking condemnation by the government and further straining tensions with the nation's Muslims.

Sheik Feiz Mohammed, head of the Global Islamic Youth Centre in Sydney's western suburbs, is the second cleric to inflame anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia with controversial comments.

Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, the imam of Australia's biggest mosque, was accused of justifying rape in November after a Ramadan sermon in which he said unveiled women were like uncovered meat.

Australian media said Feiz has lived in Lebanon for the past year and that his "Death Series" DVDs were made public by a British documentary this week called "Undercover Mosque".

"We want to have children and offer them as soldiers defending Islam," said Feiz in the video, reported Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"Teach them this: There is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a mujahid. Put in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom," he said.

The paper also said Feiz had insulted Jews, referring to them as pigs.

Feiz has a series of video clips on www.youtube.com in which he also calls for jihad and praises martyrdom.

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Community Relations Commission chairperson Stepan Kerkyasharian called for the sheik to face possible race hate charges.

"The federal prosecutor should really have a close look at what is being conveyed by this guy and whether it is in breach of any laws and he should be charged," Kerkyasharian told radio.

Islamic Friendship Association spokesman Kaysar Trad said the comments did not reflect the sentiments of Australian Muslims.

"As a community, it is quite disconcerting for us that these comments are found from time to time and they're broadcast all over the news," said Trad.

"They certainly give the public an erroneous impression about Islam and Muslims."

Last week Hilaly, who left Australia for the Middle East after his controversial remarks, told Egyptian television that white Australians were liars and that Muslims were more entitled to be in Australia than those with a convict heritage.

Muslims have been in Australia for more than 200 years, initially arriving as camel drivers to help open up the vast outback. Today there are about 280,000 Muslims in the 20 million population, living predominately in Sydney and Melbourne.

"We have had repeated remarks made by the most senior Islamic cleric in Australia. We have these latest remarks. There is this pattern of behaviour which is very concerning to the government," said Andrews.

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AFP looking into sheik DVDs

Federal police are investigating whether an Australian Islamic leader incited terror by calling on young Muslims to give up their lives in jihad, and by labelling Jews pigs.

Sheik Feiz Mohammed's comments in a collection of DVDs called Death Series have brought widespread condemnation from politicians and community groups.

The Australian Federal Police said it was looking at the DVDs and making inquiries into whether the sheik's comments breached sedition laws and incited acts of violence.

If so, the AFP would launch a full investigation and he could face charges.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Australian Muslim cleric sparks religious row

2) AFP looking into sheik DVDs