Pressure grows on Islamic cleric to leave Australia

The Straits Times, April 11, 2007
By Roger Maynard, Australia Correspondent

Sheikh Al-Hilali's call on world's Muslims to support Teheran draws condemnation


UNDER FIRE: Sheikh Al-Hilali has made a series of inflammatory comments.

CANBERRA - PRESSURE is growing on controversial Islamic leader Sheikh Taj Aldin Al-Hilali to leave Australia after he called on the world's Muslims to support the Iranian government of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

The Sydney-based cleric, who is mufti of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, reportedly made the comments during a visit to Teheran.

According to an Iranian newspaper report, he called on the Islamic world to stand in the trenches with the Republic of Iran and to never 'kneel' to its enemies.

His support for the Ahmedinejad administration at a time of growing concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions drew immediate condemnation from Australian politicians.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said on Monday: 'The Australian community has lost patience with the Sheikh - the cleric should resign immediately.'

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also backed calls for his sacking.

Describing him as a massive embarrassment, Mr Downer said the mufti had become a completely discredited figure and the sooner the Australian Islamic community dealt with him, the better.

'Here is a man who travels the world making all sorts of completely absurd and incredible comments,' the Foreign Minister said. 'My view is that he has got to be removed from the Islamic community in Australia, and some moderate and reasonable person needs to take his place.'

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock also admitted he was worried about Sheikh Hilali's comments.

'I would be concerned if any Australian was offering support and succour to Iran, particularly as it is intent on pursuing the development of the nuclear fuel cycle outside international scrutiny,' he said.

The Muslim leader's latest comments follow a series of inflammatory remarks, including a reference to scantily clad women as 'uncovered meat'.

He also courted controversy by claiming that Muslims had a greater right to live in Australia because they had paid to get here, unlike the first white settlers who were convicts transported from Britain.

And only last week, it was alleged he passed money raised by the Muslim community in Australia to supporters of Al-Qaeda and Hizbollah's terrorist arm during a visit to Lebanon.

However, while the government continues to fume over the cleric's behaviour, it is powerless to force him to leave the country.

A spokesman for the Immigration Minister said there were no grounds to cancel the Sheikh's citizenship.

He was granted Australian citizenship in l990 after then Labor prime minister Paul Keating intervened to prevent his deportation.

While his title as Mufti of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific seems grand enough, in reality he represents a small faction of Lebanese Sunni Muslims who live in the south-western suburbs of Sydney.

In truth, he enjoys only marginal influence among Australian Muslims, but his outspoken comments have guaranteed him a much wider audience.