Saudis' secret agenda
by Richard Kerbaj and Stuart Rintoul
THE cheque from the Saudi Government for $360,000 was enclosed in an envelope.
It was a donation, a gift, a part payment to subsidise the construction of a building that would become Sydney's Muslim heartbeat: Lakemba mosque. More than 35 years after Sydney cleric Khalil Shami received the cheque, he insists it came with no strings attached. But while the cheque had no tangible conditions in the form of written instructions or binding contracts, the cleric received a message from his donors several months after depositing it.
"They said: 'Please, can you mention the tragedy of the Palestinian people and what's happened to them in your sermon?"' Shami tells Inquirer. "Which is really a very noble cause, a very noble cause, I couldn't see a negative in their request."
The message Shami received from Riyadh brings into question the influence petro-dollars can have on their recipients, whether the money is bankrolling a religious centre, a clerical allowance or Queensland's Griffith University, which was exposed by The Australian last month for seeking a $1.37million Saudi grant, of which $100,000 was received, and offering to keep elements of the deal a secret.
The Saudi Government - largely through its embassy - is believed to have funnelled at least $120 million into Australia since the 1970s to propagate hardline Islam, bankroll radical clerics and build mosques, schools and charitable orgnisations.
But the Saudi cash that has flowed into Australia, that also allegedly has paid the allowance of hardline Canberra cleric Mohammed Swaiti, who has publicly praised jihadists, is dwarfed by the $90 billion Riyadh is believed to have pumped into promoting Islamic fundamentalism internationally.
Security agencies worldwide turned their focus on Saudi funding following allegations that the 19 Muslim terrorists - with 15 Saudi nationals among them - who turned commercial airliners into suicide bombs in the September 11 attacks in 2001 were funded from Riyadh.
Counter-terrorism networks also looked closely at the threat posed by Wahhabism or Salafism, a Saudi-pioneered interpretation of Islam espoused by Osama bin Laden, on radicalising Western Muslim communities.
Last October, US President George W. Bush declared that Saudi Arabia was "co-operating with efforts to combat international terrorism". But his administration is divided on the role Riyadh is playing in the West, as are Western intelligence agencies, including Britain's Scotland Yard and MI5.
Last September, weeks before Bush talked up Saudi Arabia's role in curbing radicalism and terror, his Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Stuart Levey, accused Riyadh of failing to prosecute terrorism financiers.
"If I could somehow snap my fingers and cut off the funding from one country, it would be Saudi Arabia," Levey said. "When the evidence is clear that these individuals have funded terrorist organisations, and knowingly done so, then that should be prosecuted and treated as real terrorism because it is."
Saudi Arabia has argued that it wants to improve its image in the West by using its financial clout to promote interfaith dialogue and moderate, not radical, Islam.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Saudis' secret agenda
Showing posts sorted by date for query swaiti. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query swaiti. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Monday, July 02, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: HARDLINE MOSLEM CLERICS, A DOZEN OR SO, IDENTIFIED IN AUSTRALIA
Hardline Muslim clerics identified
by Richard Kerbaj
ABOUT a dozen Muslim clerics have been identified as key hardliners preaching fundamentalist messages potentially influencing thousands of followers throughout Australia.
But one of the clerics, Bilal Dannoun, yesterday dismissed as "preposterous" claims revealed in The Australian yesterday by John Howard's Muslim advisers that the Wahabi clerics were potentially radicalising up to 3000 young Sydneysiders alone.
National security sources told The Australian they were aware of at least 10 hardline clerics around Australia, including Sheik Bilal, who were propagating a Wahabi ideology espoused by al-Qa'ida leader Osama bin Laden.
Other Wahabi clerics include Melbourne-based Mohammed Omran and Harun Mehicivic; Sydney's Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud, Hatim Eissa, Khaled Eissa and Feiz Mohammed; and Canberra's Mohammed Swaiti.
But Sheik Bilal denied proponents of the Wahabi branch of Islam promoted terror.
He said while he was not a part of Sheik Omran and Sheik Zoud's fundamentalist Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah association, he rejected claims that the two clerics were radical.
"These are people who follow the Koran and Sunnah - they follow the teachings of Islam," Sheik Bilal said.
"And if following the teachings of Islam, following the way of the Prophet is called radical, then ... call us radicals."
Australia has about 150 Sunni Muslim clerics who follow different Islamic schools of thought regarded as mostly moderate in their teachings.
Sheik Bilal, who preaches at Belmore Mosque in Sydney's southwest, accused the Howard Government-funded research, headed by Muslim leader Mustapha Kara-Ali, of creating unwarranted fear.
He said it was "just preposterous" to suggest - as Mr Kara-Ali does in his research - that up to 3000 young Muslims in southwest Sydney were in danger of being radicalised.
"We say to people like that, bring forward your evidence," Sheik Bilal said. "Where is he getting it from? He's never sat in any of my classes. Has Kara-Ali ever sat in any of my classes or Abdul Salam's (Zoud) or Abu Ayman's (Omran) classes? Where is he getting his information from?"
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock was aware of a number of radical preachers in Australia, but said yesterday the Government was determined to encourage moderate, "sensible" leadership.
"The several matters that I've been pursuing lately include ensuring the materials and products that might mislead people, might encourage the most vulnerable, should not be available," he said. "Also, our efforts to get beside the Islamic leadership to give moderate and sensible leadership." The Prime Minister yesterday renewed his calls for the public to remain vigilant about the threat of terrorism following the weekend's campaign of foiled terrorist plots in Britain.
"That is why we have to invest a lot of money in security," Mr Howard said. "It's why we have to be very vigilant and why we have to run campaigns saying be alert but not alarmed.
"People sneered at the fridge magnets, and the fridge magnets and the hotline have provided innumerable leads to our security forces, and I say to those who were cynical and critical: you're wrong."
However, federal police commissioner Mick Keelty played down the danger that young Muslims were being trained on radical messages.
"I think there's a danger if you start throwing around figures because it gives people the impression that there's a finite number of people involved in this and it gives people the feeling that we know what everyone in the world is doing," he said.
Sheik Bilal accused Mr Kara-Ali - the author of the report, which has yet to be handed to the federal Government - of being influenced in his findings against Wahabis because he was a member of an opposing sect.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Hardline Muslim clerics identified
by Richard Kerbaj
ABOUT a dozen Muslim clerics have been identified as key hardliners preaching fundamentalist messages potentially influencing thousands of followers throughout Australia.
But one of the clerics, Bilal Dannoun, yesterday dismissed as "preposterous" claims revealed in The Australian yesterday by John Howard's Muslim advisers that the Wahabi clerics were potentially radicalising up to 3000 young Sydneysiders alone.
National security sources told The Australian they were aware of at least 10 hardline clerics around Australia, including Sheik Bilal, who were propagating a Wahabi ideology espoused by al-Qa'ida leader Osama bin Laden.
Other Wahabi clerics include Melbourne-based Mohammed Omran and Harun Mehicivic; Sydney's Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud, Hatim Eissa, Khaled Eissa and Feiz Mohammed; and Canberra's Mohammed Swaiti.
But Sheik Bilal denied proponents of the Wahabi branch of Islam promoted terror.
He said while he was not a part of Sheik Omran and Sheik Zoud's fundamentalist Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah association, he rejected claims that the two clerics were radical.
"These are people who follow the Koran and Sunnah - they follow the teachings of Islam," Sheik Bilal said.
"And if following the teachings of Islam, following the way of the Prophet is called radical, then ... call us radicals."
Australia has about 150 Sunni Muslim clerics who follow different Islamic schools of thought regarded as mostly moderate in their teachings.
Sheik Bilal, who preaches at Belmore Mosque in Sydney's southwest, accused the Howard Government-funded research, headed by Muslim leader Mustapha Kara-Ali, of creating unwarranted fear.
He said it was "just preposterous" to suggest - as Mr Kara-Ali does in his research - that up to 3000 young Muslims in southwest Sydney were in danger of being radicalised.
"We say to people like that, bring forward your evidence," Sheik Bilal said. "Where is he getting it from? He's never sat in any of my classes. Has Kara-Ali ever sat in any of my classes or Abdul Salam's (Zoud) or Abu Ayman's (Omran) classes? Where is he getting his information from?"
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock was aware of a number of radical preachers in Australia, but said yesterday the Government was determined to encourage moderate, "sensible" leadership.
"The several matters that I've been pursuing lately include ensuring the materials and products that might mislead people, might encourage the most vulnerable, should not be available," he said. "Also, our efforts to get beside the Islamic leadership to give moderate and sensible leadership." The Prime Minister yesterday renewed his calls for the public to remain vigilant about the threat of terrorism following the weekend's campaign of foiled terrorist plots in Britain.
"That is why we have to invest a lot of money in security," Mr Howard said. "It's why we have to be very vigilant and why we have to run campaigns saying be alert but not alarmed.
"People sneered at the fridge magnets, and the fridge magnets and the hotline have provided innumerable leads to our security forces, and I say to those who were cynical and critical: you're wrong."
However, federal police commissioner Mick Keelty played down the danger that young Muslims were being trained on radical messages.
"I think there's a danger if you start throwing around figures because it gives people the impression that there's a finite number of people involved in this and it gives people the feeling that we know what everyone in the world is doing," he said.
Sheik Bilal accused Mr Kara-Ali - the author of the report, which has yet to be handed to the federal Government - of being influenced in his findings against Wahabis because he was a member of an opposing sect.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Hardline Muslim clerics identified
Friday, May 18, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: SWAITI RESIGNS
Imam's resignation shocks Canberra's Muslims
Canberra's Islamic community has been shocked by the resignation of their spiritual leader, who has stepped down to restore calm.
Mohammad Swaiti has been the imam at Canberra's only mosque for the past 30 years and an attempt to replace him has sparked tension in recent weeks.
A supporter of Mr Swaiti, Osman Adam, says the announcement was made at Friday prayers.
"The feeling is very subdued at the moment because we don't know where from here," he said.
"It wasn't a battle so there's no winner, there's no loser. It was just a bit of a community getting to understand themselves better."
...
Results of a search of my blog for stories concerning Swaiti can be found here: Swaiti Search Results
Pertinent Links:
1) Imam's resignation shocks Canberra's Muslims
Canberra's Islamic community has been shocked by the resignation of their spiritual leader, who has stepped down to restore calm.
Mohammad Swaiti has been the imam at Canberra's only mosque for the past 30 years and an attempt to replace him has sparked tension in recent weeks.
A supporter of Mr Swaiti, Osman Adam, says the announcement was made at Friday prayers.
"The feeling is very subdued at the moment because we don't know where from here," he said.
"It wasn't a battle so there's no winner, there's no loser. It was just a bit of a community getting to understand themselves better."
...
Results of a search of my blog for stories concerning Swaiti can be found here: Swaiti Search Results
Pertinent Links:
1) Imam's resignation shocks Canberra's Muslims
Monday, May 14, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: THE MOSLEM HATFIELDS & MCCOY'S DOWN UNDER IN AUSTRALIA
Feuding Muslims ordered to sort it out
Feuding factions within Canberra's Muslim community have been told to sort out their differences or face further court hearings.
One group, the ACT Islamic Society, took legal action on Monday, calling for the Canberra Magistrates Court to impose a restraining order on long-time imam Mohammed Swaiti for his role in allegedly inciting violence at a Canberra mosque earlier this month.
But magistrate Beth Campbell said she did not even know if she had the power to invoke an AVO against someone who had not committed an act of violence.
Ms Campbell told the ACT Islamic Society and Mr Swaiti's group to return to court on June 4 for further mediation.
She said the issue was "subtle and sophisticated" and suggested a court was an "inappropriate" place for a decision to be made.
Meanwhile, Mr Swaiti's role as imam is in doubt with the ACT Islamic Society saying it had sacked the cleric because of his radical theology.
But Mr Swaiti's legal representative, Rebecca Cullen, said the society had no power to sack him.
Mr Swaiti entered the court flanked by several male minders who arrived in a black BMW.
After the hearing, one of Mr Swaiti's minders, who is also his nephew, told reporters all the allegations against the imam were denied.
The man, who identified himself only as Al, agreed the court case and subsequent media attention was hurting Canberra's "ummah", or Islamic community.
"It would hurt any community, Muslim or Christian, Jewish, it doesn't matter, it would hurt any community and the image," he said.
Pertinent Links:
1) Feuding Muslims ordered to sort it out
Feuding factions within Canberra's Muslim community have been told to sort out their differences or face further court hearings.
One group, the ACT Islamic Society, took legal action on Monday, calling for the Canberra Magistrates Court to impose a restraining order on long-time imam Mohammed Swaiti for his role in allegedly inciting violence at a Canberra mosque earlier this month.
But magistrate Beth Campbell said she did not even know if she had the power to invoke an AVO against someone who had not committed an act of violence.
Ms Campbell told the ACT Islamic Society and Mr Swaiti's group to return to court on June 4 for further mediation.
She said the issue was "subtle and sophisticated" and suggested a court was an "inappropriate" place for a decision to be made.
Meanwhile, Mr Swaiti's role as imam is in doubt with the ACT Islamic Society saying it had sacked the cleric because of his radical theology.
But Mr Swaiti's legal representative, Rebecca Cullen, said the society had no power to sack him.
Mr Swaiti entered the court flanked by several male minders who arrived in a black BMW.
After the hearing, one of Mr Swaiti's minders, who is also his nephew, told reporters all the allegations against the imam were denied.
The man, who identified himself only as Al, agreed the court case and subsequent media attention was hurting Canberra's "ummah", or Islamic community.
"It would hurt any community, Muslim or Christian, Jewish, it doesn't matter, it would hurt any community and the image," he said.
Pertinent Links:
1) Feuding Muslims ordered to sort it out
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: MOSQUE BRAWLS - AHH THE "THE RELIGION OF HEAD CHOPPERS"
Mosque brawl splits Aust capital
CANBERRA: The senior cleric of the biggest mosque in Australia's capital, Canberra, has been ordered not to attack fellow worshippers after an outbreak of violence split the city's small Islamic community.
Sheikh Mohammed Swaiti, the Imam of the Yarralumla Mosque, was issued with a court restraining order late on Monday following a brawl at Friday prayers last week when his supporters attacked rivals seeking to replace him with another cleric.
"This Imam, he create the violence. We don't want the violence, we want him to step down," local Islamic Society President Sabre Poskovic said on Tuesday.
Swaiti has divided the Islamic community with firebrand anti-Western sermons and accusations he failed to declare US dollar cash donations from the Saudi government.
The divisions echo tensions at Sydney's biggest mosque over fiery sermons by the outspoken spiritual leader of the country's Muslims, Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, who was accused last year of justifying rape by comparing immodest women to uncovered meat.
Prime Minister John Howard urged the country's 280,000 Muslims to sack Hilaly as the nation's mufti, accusing him of damaging the image of Islamic Australians.
Tensions in Canberra boiled over when Islamic Society secretary Kurt Kennedy was repeatedly punched after announcing at Friday prayer that Swaiti would be replaced with a new cleric, Yahya Atay, previously Imam in the outback capital Alice Springs.
Swaiti, who refuses to step down, works full time as an employee of Australia's tax department and part-time at the city mosque, built by Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Critics of Swaiti have written to the tax office seeking an investigation into whether the Imam declared regular salary payments from the Saudi Arabian government.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Mosque brawl splits Aust capital
CANBERRA: The senior cleric of the biggest mosque in Australia's capital, Canberra, has been ordered not to attack fellow worshippers after an outbreak of violence split the city's small Islamic community.
Sheikh Mohammed Swaiti, the Imam of the Yarralumla Mosque, was issued with a court restraining order late on Monday following a brawl at Friday prayers last week when his supporters attacked rivals seeking to replace him with another cleric.
"This Imam, he create the violence. We don't want the violence, we want him to step down," local Islamic Society President Sabre Poskovic said on Tuesday.
Swaiti has divided the Islamic community with firebrand anti-Western sermons and accusations he failed to declare US dollar cash donations from the Saudi government.
The divisions echo tensions at Sydney's biggest mosque over fiery sermons by the outspoken spiritual leader of the country's Muslims, Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, who was accused last year of justifying rape by comparing immodest women to uncovered meat.
Prime Minister John Howard urged the country's 280,000 Muslims to sack Hilaly as the nation's mufti, accusing him of damaging the image of Islamic Australians.
Tensions in Canberra boiled over when Islamic Society secretary Kurt Kennedy was repeatedly punched after announcing at Friday prayer that Swaiti would be replaced with a new cleric, Yahya Atay, previously Imam in the outback capital Alice Springs.
Swaiti, who refuses to step down, works full time as an employee of Australia's tax department and part-time at the city mosque, built by Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Critics of Swaiti have written to the tax office seeking an investigation into whether the Imam declared regular salary payments from the Saudi Arabian government.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Mosque brawl splits Aust capital
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: WE STILL SUPPORT THE OUSTED IMAM, NO MATTER WHAT
A show of support for ousted imam
Supporters of Canberra's ousted imam claim there was no consultation to replace him and he is still regarded as their spiritual leader by the majority of muslims.
Mohammed Swaiti was replaced by Yasar Atay last Friday, sparking a fight between worshippers at the Abu Bakr Mosque in Yarralumla.
Members of Canberra's muslim community today announced their support for Mohammed Swaiti and condemned last week's violence.
Osman Adam from the Belconnen branch of the Islamic Society says the decision to replace the former imam was made by just three members of the ACT branch.
"He is the pope of muslims in Canberra, he is our archbishop, he is our pastor, he is our priest," he said.
"Therefore, for one single society to take him out, without wider consultations is something we in the Belconnen society do not fully accept or will support."
Pertinent Links:
1) A show of support for ousted imam
Supporters of Canberra's ousted imam claim there was no consultation to replace him and he is still regarded as their spiritual leader by the majority of muslims.
Mohammed Swaiti was replaced by Yasar Atay last Friday, sparking a fight between worshippers at the Abu Bakr Mosque in Yarralumla.
Members of Canberra's muslim community today announced their support for Mohammed Swaiti and condemned last week's violence.
Osman Adam from the Belconnen branch of the Islamic Society says the decision to replace the former imam was made by just three members of the ACT branch.
"He is the pope of muslims in Canberra, he is our archbishop, he is our pastor, he is our priest," he said.
"Therefore, for one single society to take him out, without wider consultations is something we in the Belconnen society do not fully accept or will support."
Pertinent Links:
1) A show of support for ousted imam
Monday, May 07, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: A MOSQUE & VIOLENCE TO GAIN CONTROL OVER IT
Canberra mosque battle moves to the courts
Sydney - The battle for control of the biggest mosque in Australia's capital city moved to a Canberra magistrates court after a bloody brawl inside the building last week. Fighting broke out Friday when the committee that runs the mosque sacked the imam, Sheik Mohammed Swaiti, for allegedly preaching violent jihad.
"This imam, he creates the violence," Sabre Poskovic, president of the Canberra Islamic Society, said after taking out a restraining order against Swaiti. "We don't want the violence. We want him to step down. He has to go."
Poskovic claimed thugs acting for Swaiti had beaten up those leading the push to have him replaced.
"I have a right to protect my staff from violence in the mosque," Poskovic told the national broadcaster ABC. "These people, they don't come here to pray. They come here for violence."
Pertinent Links:
1) Canberra mosque battle moves to the courts
Sydney - The battle for control of the biggest mosque in Australia's capital city moved to a Canberra magistrates court after a bloody brawl inside the building last week. Fighting broke out Friday when the committee that runs the mosque sacked the imam, Sheik Mohammed Swaiti, for allegedly preaching violent jihad.
"This imam, he creates the violence," Sabre Poskovic, president of the Canberra Islamic Society, said after taking out a restraining order against Swaiti. "We don't want the violence. We want him to step down. He has to go."
Poskovic claimed thugs acting for Swaiti had beaten up those leading the push to have him replaced.
"I have a right to protect my staff from violence in the mosque," Poskovic told the national broadcaster ABC. "These people, they don't come here to pray. They come here for violence."
Pertinent Links:
1) Canberra mosque battle moves to the courts
Monday, March 19, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: SAUDI CASH, TAXES NOT PAID
Taxation office to probe Muslim cleric on Saudi cash
A SENIOR Muslim cleric working for the tax office in Canberra is being investigated over accusations he failed to pay income tax on thousands of dollars he allegedly received from the Saudi embassy.
An ACT Islamic organisation has also accused the Palestinian-born imam Mohammad Swaiti of being "radical", anti-Western in his religious teachings, and failing to declare payments he received from officiating at wedding ceremonies.
Documents obtained by The Australian reveal an Australian Tax Office investigation into Sheik Swaiti over allegations by senior Muslim community leaders that he failed to declare his clerical allowances of up to $US30,000 ($37,700) a year, which were paid to him by the Saudi Government.
The tax office sent Islamic Society of ACT president Sabrija Poskovic a letter in reply to written allegations made by him and his community regarding Sheik Swaiti.
"I refer to your letter relating to the imam of your mosque, Mohammad Swaiti, who also happens to be a tax office employee," the ATO's letter to Mr Poskovic says.
"I have passed your concerns to the relevant area of the tax office and I expect to be able to respond to you by 6 February 2007."
Documents provided to the tax office, which accuse Sheik Swaiti of being "very fanatic and radical person in his Islamic views", follow factional divisions within Canberra's Muslim community over issues including Canberra's only mosque.
The claims come after The Australian last week revealed that hardline Islamic clerics were encouraging their followers not to pay income tax because they considered it contrary to sharia law.
Sheik Swaiti refused to answer The Australian's questions regarding the ATO investigation and accusations levelled at him by sections of his community, saying God would deal with them.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taxation office to probe Muslim cleric on Saudi cash
A SENIOR Muslim cleric working for the tax office in Canberra is being investigated over accusations he failed to pay income tax on thousands of dollars he allegedly received from the Saudi embassy.
An ACT Islamic organisation has also accused the Palestinian-born imam Mohammad Swaiti of being "radical", anti-Western in his religious teachings, and failing to declare payments he received from officiating at wedding ceremonies.
Documents obtained by The Australian reveal an Australian Tax Office investigation into Sheik Swaiti over allegations by senior Muslim community leaders that he failed to declare his clerical allowances of up to $US30,000 ($37,700) a year, which were paid to him by the Saudi Government.
The tax office sent Islamic Society of ACT president Sabrija Poskovic a letter in reply to written allegations made by him and his community regarding Sheik Swaiti.
"I refer to your letter relating to the imam of your mosque, Mohammad Swaiti, who also happens to be a tax office employee," the ATO's letter to Mr Poskovic says.
"I have passed your concerns to the relevant area of the tax office and I expect to be able to respond to you by 6 February 2007."
Documents provided to the tax office, which accuse Sheik Swaiti of being "very fanatic and radical person in his Islamic views", follow factional divisions within Canberra's Muslim community over issues including Canberra's only mosque.
The claims come after The Australian last week revealed that hardline Islamic clerics were encouraging their followers not to pay income tax because they considered it contrary to sharia law.
Sheik Swaiti refused to answer The Australian's questions regarding the ATO investigation and accusations levelled at him by sections of his community, saying God would deal with them.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taxation office to probe Muslim cleric on Saudi cash
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: MOSQUE DONATIONS MISUSED & HOARDING OF SAUDI FUNDS
Taxman accused of misusing donations
By Nick Butterly
January 16, 2007 05:56pm
A TAX office employee who moonlights as Canberra's top Muslim leader has been accused of misusing donations earmarked for the capital's mosque.
At the same time worshippers at the mosque have called for an investigation into whether he failed to declare cash payments from the Saudi Arabian Government.
Mohammed Swaiti works full time at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and part-time as Canberra's imam.
A small group of critics last week distributed leaflets to worshippers at the mosque - situated in the heart of Canberra's diplomatic precinct - alleging the imam was hoarding money donated by the Saudi Arabian embassy for the upkeep of the mosque.
It is understood that members of the mosque have also written to the ATO urging it to investigate whether he failed to declare regular cash payments made to him in US dollars by the Saudi embassy as a salary for his religious duties.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taxman accused of misusing donations
By Nick Butterly
January 16, 2007 05:56pm
A TAX office employee who moonlights as Canberra's top Muslim leader has been accused of misusing donations earmarked for the capital's mosque.
At the same time worshippers at the mosque have called for an investigation into whether he failed to declare cash payments from the Saudi Arabian Government.
Mohammed Swaiti works full time at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and part-time as Canberra's imam.
A small group of critics last week distributed leaflets to worshippers at the mosque - situated in the heart of Canberra's diplomatic precinct - alleging the imam was hoarding money donated by the Saudi Arabian embassy for the upkeep of the mosque.
It is understood that members of the mosque have also written to the ATO urging it to investigate whether he failed to declare regular cash payments made to him in US dollars by the Saudi embassy as a salary for his religious duties.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Taxman accused of misusing donations
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
