Abandoned ... Health Minister Tony Abbott says muslims are beginning to break free from the "Sheik Hilalay fan club" / File
Posted on 10/30/2006 7:18:36 PM PST by Fred Nerks
Muslims leaving 'Hilaly fan club'
MUSLIMS were beginning to break free from the "Sheik Hilaly fan club" since the senior cleric's fall from grace, Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said today.
The controversy surrounding Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilaly was an opportunity for other Australian Muslims to represent their community, Mr Abbott said.
The controversy started last week when it was revealed the mufti compared immodestly-dressed women to uncovered meat open to predators in a speech at Sydney's Lakemba mosque last month.
"I certainly think that it's about time that we started to hear diverse voices in the Islamic community and perhaps one of the good things to come out of the recent controversy is the range of Islamic people here in Australia who are now starting to break ranks, so to speak, from the Sheik Hilaly fan club," Mr Abbott said on ABC radio.
"He certainly has form. He has been an extremist on just about every issue where he's been in the media over the last couple of decades."
Treasurer Peter Costello said Sheik Hilaly's comments about women were just the tip of the iceberg of extreme views that could have damaged Australian society over the past decade.
Mr Costello said the sheik had a history of making inflammatory comments, dating back to the late 1980s when he made public anti-semitic remarks.
"The latest episode is just the latest in a long tradition. I congratulate the muslim community for dealing with it now, but my point is, a lot of damage could have been done in the last decade," Mr Costello said on Macquarie Radio.
"You go right through the decade, the sheik has been anti-semitic, he has supported jihadists, he has made statements that are absolutely offensive to women, such as the uncovered meat one...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Abandoned ... Health Minister Tony Abbott says muslims are beginning to break free from the "Sheik Hilalay fan club" / File
I thought it said "....the Hilary fan club" and I couldn't imagine why they would! :)
Coast radicals court sheik
31Oct06
CONTROVERSIAL Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali has been on the Gold Coast, staying at the mosque as an 'official guest' of a group of hard-core Gold Coast Muslims who have sworn allegiance to him.
On his third visit to the Gold Coast in 20 months, the mufti stayed in the first-floor guest quarters at the Arundel mosque for four days during the fasting month of Ramadan, which ended last week.
Muslim sources told The Gold Coast Bulletin that a small but influential core of Gold Coast Muslim extremists wants an 'Arab imam' with similar views to the mufti to replace the current imam, Imraan Husain, who is of Indian descent and perceived by the group to be too moderate.
A Gold Coast Bulletin investigation also uncovered:
* A member of the Gold Coast Islamic Association committee was convicted of sexual assault on a 16-year-old female, on October 19, after he pleaded guilty on October 16. The man has since been removed from the committee, but the offence occurred in May last year. The man is part of the hardcore group of followers who are open supporters of the mufti.
* Four men are on notice that they will be suspended from the mosque for periods of 20 and 40 days after a verbal fight during a Ramadan service where one of the men was heard to yell: "I'm not a criminal."
* A small group of Afghan members has challenged the Imam for not speaking about jihad.
Sources told The Bulletin that one of those suspended after the argument had been concerned that the convicted sex offender was still on the governing committee. Muslim community member Mustafa Ali said the committee member had not been replaced and nothing had been made public.
"For the past 16 to 18 months or so, the Islamic Association of the Gold Coast has been controlled by a small number of special interest groups from outside of the committee," he said.
"Their aim is to take control of the mosque and they are aided and supported by the mufti.
"They want to destroy the peace and harmony which the community have enjoyed since the arrival of the spiritual leader Imam Husain in February last year.
"A small number of Arabic and Afghan community on the Gold Coast use intimidation and physical threat tactics to drive away Muslim members who oppose them.
"They use mafia-style tactics. So far, they have managed to drive away many highly professional and educated members of our community from the mosque because they don't want conflict."
Mr Ali said many members were resisting 'those groups who are promoting ideas against multiculturalism and Australianism in our community'.
"They are against federal and state initiatives such as English-speaking imams and promoting racial harmony among Australian Muslims," he said.
Other well-placed Gold Coast Muslim sources said the extremists wanted to see Imam Husain leave.
"And they may succeed because although he is on a three-year contract, he is not happy with the constant friction from these people who question almost everything he says," said a Muslim member.
"And from his point of view it must be very frustrating because he is a true Islamic scholar and these others don't really know their Koran very well.
"One group even asked him why he doesn't speak about jihad and he told them that was not relevant in Australia at all, and he went further, adding that the Australian way of government would be well suited to some Islamic countries and that did not go down well with them at all."
Another source said a number of the nine-man governing committee was ruled by people outside the committee.
Committee president Abdul Naseem said the committee had found out about the charges against their fellow committee member only a few weeks ago.
"The person is no longer on the committee and that has been done in writing," he said.
------
LOOKS LIKE THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD HAVE THEIR EYE ON THE GOLD COAST MOSQUE!
I think in New York it would be "Hilaly!"
HILALY THE MUFTI OF NEW YORK!
SMORGASBORD! look at all those scantily clad, adulterous infidels!
Nice to see the mufti as an example of the virtues of free speech:
1. Give 'em enough rope and they'll hang themselves.
2. Free speech helps us "spot the looney".
This is all just a show. They would love to support him, but they want to look "moderate". Rememer, they are allowed to lie to further their 'religion'. If they were in power, this guy would be their main man.
We have Paul Keating and his ilk to thank for all of this. I am glad that that side of things has come out. I guess the positive out of all of this is that it has alerted Australians to what these creeps are all about.
I like it. Someone actually did go into the mosque and recorded his speech, then translated it.
I been thinkin' about that...it couldn't have been a stranger, they all know each other. A plant couldn't get away with it.
He's got enemies in his own camp. And about damn time. There have been attempts to get rid of him for years.
I'm also pleased at the amount of publicity this story has generated. Everyone I know is talking about it. Someone has done us all a huge favour.
And the journalists were chasing Keating into his office last night. He was furious! (Lord help me, I HATED THAT MAN!) Keating looks incredibly evil, old and and ugly. What a disgusting, arrogant specimen.
I feel the same about Keating.
CONTROVERSIAL Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali has been on the Gold Coast, staying at the mosque as an 'official guest' of a group of hard-core Gold Coast Muslims who have sworn allegiance to him.
"A small number of Arabic and Afghan community on the Gold Coast use intimidation and physical threat tactics to drive away Muslim members who oppose them.
Gold Coast?!
The more these things are brought into the open, the more they’d be addressed – I hope anyway. They shouldn’t let this carry on for another two decades!
Two very interesting and recent articles - not sure if you've already read them.
Multicultural madness needs such antidotes
A twentysomething visitor from Britain brings us the message that there should be no special rules for Muslims, writes Janet Albrechtsen
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20599335-32522,00.html
No, sheik, sorry isn't good enough
For too long the West's unreciprocated tolerance has allowed fanatical Muslim leaders such as Taj Din al-Hilali to spawn a new generation of Islamic radicals who reject our values, writes Janet Albrechtsen
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,20678893-32522,00.html
thanks for the two very interesting links.
Bull.
He isn't stepping down. He isn't apologizing.
He will take a leave for a couple of months and speak abroad and 'recover' from his convenient chest pains.
He will be back, and he has had a large number of muslims come to his defense.
Australians are expecting the muslim community to take care of this problem themselves, but I don't put much faith in the muslim community to JACK SQUAT about it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728027/posts
see #24
I remember, several years ago, I saw a TV documentary about islam in Britain. One item from that program I will never forget. A very old man with a walking stick, who walked several miles each day to go to a mosque a long way from his home. He did that because the mosque he had been going to for all the long years he lived in England, had been taken over by elements of which he did not approve. He hated what they preached he said.
He explained how it took the muslim community many years to raise the funds to build the mosque, and there were genuine tears in the old man's eyes...as he limped away.
Our governments, I believe, have done those muslims who want to live quiet, normal lives, a great injustice by allowing the radicals to prosper. Membership in the Muslim Brotherhood should not be tolerated, for a start.
If this radical faction on the Gold Coast is successful, I expect the events of Cronulla to be repeated on Surfers Paradise beach.
I do hope the Gold Coast muslim community does not allow this to happen...but we shall see.
“That's been the MO in Australia...the local muslim community spend years collecting funds from the members to build a mosque and appoint one of their own clerics, then the Saudi funded islamofascists, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, muscle in and take over.”
That seems to be right based on what I’ve read. Actually, in the recent movie “the path to 9/11”, didn’t Ahmad Shah Masood complain to the CIA field agent about funds intended for the Northern Alliance being diverted to AQ?
“Al-Hilali, mufti of Australia and New Zealand, much in the news for his woman as cat-meat comments, is one such creature. There are 20 muslim groups who have been trying to get rid of him for years...but the Lebanese muslims in Sydney, who support Hezb'allah and enjoy dual citizenship (they are here for the welfare) have too much political clout. (The Left will sell their soul and your country for a vote)…”
Interesting point about mufti of Australia & NZ.. This is one more recent comment on Matt Price’s blog on the Australian newspaper website:
“Ataman of Perth
27 October at 09:32 PM
I am a Muslim and totally reject and condem what this fool said. BUT one thing I want to point out is that every time this idiot says something controversial the media keep saying he is the leader of Australia’s Muslims. Now I don’t know how he came to be elected and who he actually represents but I can say out of the thousands of Muslims that I am aware of he is certainly not their Mufti or leader. The Victorian Islamic Council has been trying to get rid of the Mufti position for years and in fact trying to get rid of him. I wish the Australian Media would stop referring to him as Australia’s Muslim Leader. “
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mattprice/index.php/theaustralian/comments/the_unacceptable_face_of_islam/P225/
I really think they should do something about dual citizenship. There needs to be boundaries set around it. This is part of what I was suggesting in other threads when I said that we need to review our current citizenship laws, etc. Actually, I work with a couple of Christian Australian-Lebanese women and they hate the negative influence some Muslim Lebanese have brought upon them and have tarnished the Lebanese nationality. As you know, most Christian Lebanese in Australia are quite successful business people and well integrated.
“Our governments, I believe, have done those muslims who want to live quiet, normal lives, a great injustice by allowing the radicals to prosper. Membership in the Muslim Brotherhood should not be tolerated, for a start.
If this radical faction on the Gold Coast is successful, I expect the events of Cronulla to be repeated on Surfers Paradise beach.”
Yup, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cronulla was repeated on Surfers. Hope all concerned learned a good lesson from Cronulla and the issues. IMO, it wouldn’t have happened, if the community was listened to and long ago.
As I’ve said before, I don’t think this is simply for the Muslim community to address. They need to take the lead but our government authorities must listen, understand the problems/issues and work inconjunction with the Muslim community to permanently address this menace.
You’re right, what I understand is that most people from Muslim countries come here to get away from the Islamic cr*p, not be introduced to another one!
I'm sure his fan club is just as large as before, but a few may have had the guts to stand up for themselves against him. Let's see how long they stay alive.
The Victorian Islamic Council has been trying to get rid of the Mufti position for years and in fact trying to get rid of him.I liked what that blogger said, but my question is, what's this abut "trying to". If they don't want or need a Mufti, they should pass a resolution and proclamation saying that clown doesn't speak for Islam, that he doesn't have a title of Mufti, and that there is no longer any such title. Then lay a fatwa on his stupid butt. :') Nice photos BTW.
I'm not sure why they've had so much trouble "trying to" get rid of Hilali or the Mufti position. It has been in the press though in Australia that in fact many have, at least, tried to get rid of him.
My guess is that there are two main variables as Fred Nerks has mentioned: a)Hilali represents the "Lebanese Muslim" community (largest muslim community in Australia and especially Sydney)- they seem to have a substantial political clout. b)The Australian government (especially State government which is labor/leftist) hasn't addressed the issue of Hilali.
I think those who want to get rid of Hilali and the Mufti position need to have 'active & visible' support from mainstream and especially the Australian governments (Local, State & Federal levels).
This issue needs to be addressed at multiple levels. I also think that Hilali has been a smart political player thus far. That is why I believe, like many Australians, that it is a terrific thing we now have his stance out there and wide in the open. I think it should be addressed quickly and effectively and set an example for the rest of Muslim fundamentalists in this country.
BTW - when you say a large number of Muslims in Australia, you have to put that into perspective too. There are approx. 400,000 Muslims in Australia (taking the high end) and the total population of Australia is approx. 21 million. Out of approx. 400,000 muslims, Hilali only represent a very minor percentage. Now, I don't want to focus on numbers, but the point is that we need to address any radical muslim elements in Australia efficiently and effectively.
As I said before, we can't allow this to carry on for another two decades or even a few years - I believe the muslim community can't do it on their own but will need to take the lead on this issue.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.