Get the socks Here.
Posted on 10/27/2006 1:19:48 PM PDT by freedom44
PROVOCATIVE Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali has inflamed the controversy around him, declaring that he would only resign when the world was "clean of the White House first".
As Sheikh Hilali spoke out defiantly yesterday, the Lebanese Association announced it would review a decision made on Thursday to temporarily stand him down so he could "reflect on" his earlier comments about women, rape and the law.
The mufti's 25-year-old daughter Asma al-Hilali described her father as a "sick man" in need of rest. "Why don't you just leave him alone?" she told reporters. She said her father had spent more time working for women's rights than just about anything else during his term that began in the 1980s.
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday warned that if Sheikh Hilali was not stripped of the title of mufti, it would give the impression that some of his views had support.
"It's not for me to say who the Mufti of Australia should be. But it is for me to say as Prime Minister that I believe unless this matter is satisfactorily resolved by the Islamic community there is the real worry that lasting damage will be done," he said.
"My view is that they have to resolve this issue. If it is not resolved then, unfortunately, people will run around saying, well, the reason they didn't get rid of him is that secretly some of them support his views."
Lebanese Association president Tom Zreika said members were "fuming" and "embarrassed" and wanted stronger action. "Many feel the Sheikh's comments have set the community back 10 years," he said.
Sheikh Hilali's spokesman said yesterday that his comments made to a Ramadan service last month — where he said scantily dressed women invited rape — had been misinterpreted.
The sheikh yesterday linked his future to the US Government, which he previously referred to as part of the axis of evil, along with Australia and the UK.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma led the call for the sheikh to go, describing his comments on women and rape as "vile, offensive and outrageous".
Muslim groups in Victoria, NSW and Queensland also called for his sacking. A spokesman for the Islamic Council of Queensland, Abdul Jamal, said he should be charged for making inciting comments against women. The Islamic Council of Victoria has already called for the sheikh to be sacked as Mufti of Australia, and the position abolished.
The Egyptian-born cleric who once belonged to the radical Muslim Brotherhood is no stranger to conflict. He drew widespread condemnation last year for describing the Holocaust as a Zionist ploy.
Sheikh Hilali's spokesman has again attempted to play down the comments, saying the mufti condemned sexual violence.
"His comments were intended to encourage modesty and abstinence until marriage. He has been a staunch supporter of women's rights throughout his life," he said.
And the DU has a new hero!
I like that.
Soem "AUSSIE" preacher gets chastised by the Aussie gov't and its Bushes fault.
who said there wasn't a greater global jihad/conspiracy against the White House?
He's sick all right, but not the sort of sick that rest will help. It's more likely to aggravate the "condition".
Women's rights to do what? To not be able to do anything in her own name. To not be able to go out unless covered head to toe, and escorted by a male relative or husband? The right to be beaten? The right to be mutilated in what is oh so gently termed "female circumcision". Some rights.
***"Why don't you just leave him alone?" ***
I would love to leave him alone
This is not the first time Hilali has made outrageous comments.
A lot of people are sick of him in Australia, including muslims. Time to take some serious action about him. Prevention is better than after-the-event-action. Why let such people into this country!
Back in 1990, apparently, acting PM Paul Keating (labor/leftist party in Australia) intervened directly to give Hilali his permanent residency in Australia in order to attract votes from the muslims.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20658333-601,00.html
Also, here is what was said in one blog as posted on the Australian newspaper site yesterday.
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mattprice/index.php/theaustralian/comments/the_unacceptable_face_of_islam
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