Australian Muslim cleric collapses under pressure to
resign
(AFP) 30 October 2006 Khaleej Times SYDNEY - Australias top Muslim cleric was rushed to hospital Monday
after collapsing, as he came under intense pressure to resign for lambasting
scantily-clad women and praising jihadist fighters.
Sheikh Taj Aldin Al Hilali, at the
eye of a national storm following a series of explosive remarks, fainted ahead
of a meeting with Islamic community leaders, several of whom are joining a
growing chorus of calls for him to quit. The controversial cleric, who
reportedly suffers from asthma, was in stable condition, a hospital official
said, after reporters saw an ambulance collect a patient and race from the
Sydney mosque where Hilali preaches. The dramatic collapse came as the
besieged Imam prepared to meet with leaders of the Lebanese Muslim Association
(LMA), which runs the mosque and is desperately seeking to resolve the
escalating crisis. LMA president Tom Zreika refused to
confirm Hilali had collapsed, but said due to unforeseen circumstances, we were
unable to continue our private meeting with the sheikh. Hes
okay, Zreika added. The meeting was called after
Hilalis spokesman earlier said the cleric was determined to tough out the row
that Prime Minister John Howard warned Monday could permanently tarnish the
Muslims communitys image. He is not going to step aside, the
Egyptian-born Hilalis friend and spokesman Keysar Trad said, citing a statement
the mufti had been set to release later Monday. I certainly hope that he doesnt
change his mind. I hope he stays in his position and weathers this storm, Trad
added. The stepped-up calls for Hilalis
resignation came as the preacher was quoted as saying jihadists fighting US and
coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as those fighting Israel, were
liberators. Jihad of the liberators of
Palestine, thats the greatest and cleanest and highest, he said in an
Arabic-language radio interview earlier this month. We are talking about jihad of
liberating our land, jihad of Muslim Afghans in their land thats jihad, he
added. Hilali was already under fierce
pressure after comparing immodestly-dressed women to uncovered meat inviting
attack from predators. Some senior Australian Muslims said
enough was enough, and that the clerics unguarded comments were seriously
damaging the Islamic community. The right decision is for him to
step down. As soon as he does make the decision, the better, said Lebanese
community leader Jamal Rifi, who described himself as a friend of
Hilali. When he realises the magnitude of
the damage he has caused the society, he will reach the decision
himself. We have been under the spotlight
for all the wrong reasons, and as long as he is the religious leader of this
community, we will be under the spotlight for the wrong reasons, he told Sky
News. Rifi predicted the LMA would sack
the preacher unless he stepped down soon. But the clerics spokesman said he
was being unfairly pilloried and had already apologised to those who
interpreted the message in his sermon, which was translated and published in a
newspaper last week, as one of women inviting rape. The comments were part of an
appropriate fire and brimstone message on adultery and
modesty, said Trad of the cleric, who has agreed to take a break from preaching
for two to three months. Hilali added fuel to the fire
Friday, when he vowed not to resign until the world was clean of the White
House, comments that enraged many in a country that is closely allied with the
United States. Howard also ratcheted up the
pressure on the besieged cleric. One of the things that does bother
me is that when he goes overseas he carries the title of Mufti of Australia, and
that represents to the world a view of Australian Islam which I feel very
uncomfortable with, Howard said. Were appealing to (the Islamic
community) to understand the damage that will be done to the perception of their
own community if they do not deal with this issue, he
added. ///// JIMedia: Memurnikan Tanggapan Umum Melalui Penyebaran Ilmu dan Maklumat ////////////////////////////////// Nota: Kandungan mel ini tidak menggambarkan pendirian rasmi Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) melainkan yang dinyatakan sedemikian. Berminat menjadi ahli JIM? Sila isi borang keahlian "online" di: http://www.jim.org.my/, dari seksyen "BORANG Online". Langganan : Hantar E-mail kosong ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub : Hantar E-mail kosong ke [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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