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Australian imams 'to fight fires' (firefighters).
BBC ^ | Thursday, March 23, 2007 | n/a

Posted on 03/22/2007 4:01:30 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu

Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali in a photo dated 31 July, 2006
Some imams' recent comments have been deemed offensive

Islamic clerics in Australia are being encouraged to volunteer as firemen and lifeguards, to improve the image of the Muslim community.

The request came from Tom Zreika, president of the influential Lebanese Muslim Association, in a report set to be discussed by clerics this weekend.

Mr Zreika said Muslims had become as unpopular as communists once were.

He also said that any imams who felt they could not comply with Australian law should leave the country.

As head of the largest Islamic organisation in Australia, Mr Zreika's views hold a lot of weight among the country's Muslim population.

In the 16-page report obtained by The Australian newspaper, he said that Australians "have had enough of us".

Surf life saving group in Sydney
Australia's first Muslim surf life savers began work last year

"We have become the new communism, particularly in the West, and some people in our community are so repulsed by our actions it is making life unbearable for us and our offspring," said Mr Zreika.

"It would be great to see a turbaned imam fighting fires alongside other bushfire service volunteers," Mr Zreika added, also recommending that clerics volunteered as lifeguards.

Such public service volunteers are highly respected in Australia - which has a strong beach culture and frequent forest fires.

Mr Zreika also spoke out against Islamic clerics who opposed Australian rules.

"If an imam finds it impossible to comply with the laws of this country, and justifies its breach, then they should leave Australia altogether," he said.

Top cleric Sheikh Taj Aldin al-Hilali created un uproar last year when he described scantily-dressed women as "uncovered meat" inviting rape.

He then made disparaging remarks about Australia's convict beginnings.





TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; firefighter; firefighters; imam; imams; islam; muslim; muslims; reputation

1 posted on 03/22/2007 4:01:32 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu
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Apparently this ain't such a popular thread--at least to comment on......

Not very surprising, though.

2 posted on 03/22/2007 4:38:49 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Personally, as an Australian volunteer firefighter, I will happily welcome anybody who wants to volunteer. We have a Moslem in my brigade.

But I want people joining for the right reasons - to serve their community. Not to prove a political point. A Moslem wants to join, great, if it's because he wants to fight fires, and help those in accidents etc. But it has to be for the right reasons.


3 posted on 03/22/2007 4:56:29 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
I believe the History of Muslims in non Muslim nations is very clear.....

They're only compliant and "agreeable" until they achieve major minority or majority status -- THEN things become quite different...

A "religion" that calls for the DEATH or ENSLAVEMENT of non Muslims -- can NEVER be regarded as a safe neighbor....
NEVER....

A "religion" with "fundamentalists" routinely committing savage acts of violence against women and children throughout the world --- are a rabid herd that must be "innoculated" or destroyed rather than accommodated.

Semper Fi
4 posted on 03/22/2007 5:15:50 PM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
Mr Zreika said Muslims had become as unpopular as communists once were.

Such modesty. But there were always a few communists, such as Frank Hardy, who got upgraded to "lovable eccentric" (or "ratbag" in Strine)

5 posted on 03/22/2007 5:21:31 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy ( for those in Rio Linda, there's Conservapedia)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

So will they swim out to you and stand on your shoulders?


6 posted on 03/22/2007 5:23:29 PM PDT by Ieatfrijoles (Incinerate Riyadh Now.(Request shot splash))
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

"Mr Zreika said Muslims had become as unpopular as communists once were."

Could that be because their other brethren left little girls inside a building to burn to death? And on and on and on.


7 posted on 03/22/2007 6:29:31 PM PDT by swmobuffalo (The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu
Apparently this ain't such a popular thread--at least to comment on......

Not the comment you were looking for, I suspect, but this is a real leg-slapper.

Some imams' recent comments have been deemed offensive.

"deemed offensive". As in not really offensive but called so by people whose judgment is suspect, or borderline offensive. But, hey, I give him credit for speaking up. The problem is he isn't an imam therefore doesn't have the opportunity to indoctrinate people week after week like they do and although the story says he is influential - I don't know. I hope so.

8 posted on 03/22/2007 6:45:49 PM PDT by Northern Alliance
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To: naturalman1975
"But I want people joining for the right reasons - to serve their community. Not to prove a political point. A Moslem wants to join, great, if it's because he wants to fight fires, and help those in accidents etc. But it has to be for the right reasons."

Trust me my brave Aussy friend, it's not for the "right reasons".

9 posted on 03/22/2007 7:23:12 PM PDT by Desron13 (If you constantly vote between the lesser of two evils then evil is your ultimate destination.)
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