DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: HILALI, THE "UNCOVERED MEAT" & "WHITE CONVICTS" MUFTI OF AUSTRALIA, HAS DAMAGED THE MOSLEM COMMUNITY

Hilali damaged community, say Muslims

RELATIONS between Sydney Muslims and the wider community had been damaged enough by controversial mufti Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali, the Lebanese Muslim Associations (LMA) said today.

The board of the LMA is expected tonight to determine a retirement package for the firebrand cleric, who has been banned from delivering sermons at Australia's largest mosque in Sydney's western suburb of Lakemba.

The LMA, which runs the mosque, supported Sheik al-Hilali after it was revealed in October he made a speech comparing immodestly-dressed women to “uncovered meat” and blaming women for sexual attacks on them.

But Australia's Islamic leader went further last month when he appeared on Egyptian television, saying westerners were “liars and oppressors” and Muslims had more right to live in Australia than descendants of convicts.

Tonight's weekly meeting of the LMA will continue its discussions from last Thursday's meeting, which was opened to the public, on a final strategy to oust the cleric.

“Although he's damaging a lot of our relations and our image, we've got to do it in a manner which is respectable and an outcome that can be favoured by everybody,” LMA President Tom Zreika told ABC Radio.

”I don't want to pre-empt (tonight's) decision but I can tell you that his support wasn't what it used to be, especially since last October.”

Preliminary discussions from last week's meeting indicated the sheik would receive rent-free accommodation located on the premises of the mosque and a weekly stipend.

Mr Zreika would not discuss details of the deal, but indicated the sheik would not go away empty-handed after giving 24 to 25 years of service.

“We don't pay him, he's not employed by us,” Mr Zreika said.

“He's doing it for free and out of the goodness of his heart.

“We can't just say see you later mate, thanks for all your help.”

Mr Zreika said the mufti was paid by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.

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I would disagree that it was Hilali that damaged the community...

HILALI ONLY TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE MOSLEM COMMUNITY AND THE MOSLEM MIND...


Pertinent Links:

1) Hilali damaged community, say Muslims