DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: NEW BOARD OF EXECUTIVES FOR AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MOSLEM BODY

Poll brings end to Muslim court brawl
Richard Kerbaj

A NEW board of executives has been elected to the nation's biggest Muslim body following a long and costly court battle.

Ikebal Patel, newly appointed president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said the new committee would work to create more youth programs and tackle community-related problems, such as extremist preaching.

He said the committee, elected yesterday, would work to regain public confidence, which was undermined last year following an internal brawl that led the organisation into administration and saw it spend thousands of dollars in legal fees.

"The newly appointed committee has to, by its own action, bring about that confidence amongst the Muslims and amongst the greater community of Australia," Mr Patel told The Australian last night.

The AFIC was forced into administration in September after internal brawling that followed its April elections, when a group of Pakistanis wrested control from a faction controlled by Fijian Indians.

Westpac froze the organisation's accounts in June after The Australian revealed the brawling.
Mr Patel said the new team would also decide on what to do with the position of mufti - the nation's most senior imam - which the AFIC created in 1989, appointing the controversial Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali.


Pertinent Links:

1) Poll brings end to Muslim court brawl