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Australia's Beleaguered Muslim Leader Takes Indefinite Leave After Fainting
Senior Australian Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin al Hilali is seen in this file photo from July 31, 2006. The cleric triggered national outrage on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, for likening women who dress immodestly to meat that is left out for prey to eat, a comment critics said excused rape. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, file)10-30-2006 5:12 AM
By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer
SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia's top Islamic cleric, who sparked outrage by saying that immodestly dressed women invite rape, said Monday that his words were "inappropriate and unacceptable" and he was taking indefinite leave.
Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali issued the statement from a Sydney hospital after collapsing Monday during a crisis meeting with Muslim leaders.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister John Howard said the cleric may have breached Australia's counterterrorism laws by praising militants in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Australian newspaper reported last week that al-Hilali had compared women who do not wear head scarves to "uncovered meat" in a sermon at the mosque.
"I confess that this analogy is inappropriate and unacceptable for the Australian society and the western society in general," al-Hilali said Monday. "In due course, I will take the necessary decision that will lift the pressures that have been placed on our Australian Muslim community and that which will benefit all Australians."
"The pressure of the last couple of days has had an obvious effect on my health and well-being," he said, adding that he had requested indefinite leave from his duties at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney.
Some local media speculated that the 65-year-old Egyptian-born Sunni cleric intended to resign, but Mosque administrator Toufic Zreika said he did not know if that was the case.
"What's happened in the last few days has really taken its toll on him, his family, his health and I think he's just had enough," said Zreika, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association.
The cleric's collapse was related to his heart, Zreika said. Al-Hilali has suffered four strokes and recently underwent double bypass surgery, Zreika said.
Al-Hilali had been meeting with members of the Muslim association that administers his mosque when an ambulance was called to the building.
Al-Hilali, who has been mufti of Australia since 1989, has rejected calls for his resignation over his remarks about women and rape. He apologized for the comments last week and agreed to stop preaching for three months.
The Australian reported Monday that al-Hilali used an Arabic-language radio interview two weeks ago to endorse militants in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.
"Jihad of Iraqi Muslims is jihad, but not when Sunnis and Shias are killing each other _ that's not jihad," the newspaper quoted al-Hilali as saying on Oct. 17.
It is illegal to incite violence against Australian troops. Australia, a staunch ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, has soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Howard said he did not know if al-Hilali's comments were being investigated.
"If you incite people to hurt our troops, that could be an offense," Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting radio.
Howard said Australia's 300,000 Muslims should be considering whether al-Hilali is the right person to represent them.
"The real worry I have, and it's a very deep worry, is that this will permanently damage the attitudes and perceptions of Muslims in the broader Australian community and I don't want that to happen," Howard said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Senior Australian Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin al Hilali is seen in this file photo from July 31, 2006. The cleric triggered national outrage on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, for likening women who dress immodestly to meat that is left out for prey to eat, a comment critics said excused rape. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, file)10-30-2006 5:12 AMBy ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer
SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia's top Islamic cleric, who sparked outrage by saying that immodestly dressed women invite rape, said Monday that his words were "inappropriate and unacceptable" and he was taking indefinite leave.
Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali issued the statement from a Sydney hospital after collapsing Monday during a crisis meeting with Muslim leaders.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister John Howard said the cleric may have breached Australia's counterterrorism laws by praising militants in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Australian newspaper reported last week that al-Hilali had compared women who do not wear head scarves to "uncovered meat" in a sermon at the mosque.
"I confess that this analogy is inappropriate and unacceptable for the Australian society and the western society in general," al-Hilali said Monday. "In due course, I will take the necessary decision that will lift the pressures that have been placed on our Australian Muslim community and that which will benefit all Australians."
"The pressure of the last couple of days has had an obvious effect on my health and well-being," he said, adding that he had requested indefinite leave from his duties at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney.
Some local media speculated that the 65-year-old Egyptian-born Sunni cleric intended to resign, but Mosque administrator Toufic Zreika said he did not know if that was the case.
"What's happened in the last few days has really taken its toll on him, his family, his health and I think he's just had enough," said Zreika, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association.
The cleric's collapse was related to his heart, Zreika said. Al-Hilali has suffered four strokes and recently underwent double bypass surgery, Zreika said.
Al-Hilali had been meeting with members of the Muslim association that administers his mosque when an ambulance was called to the building.
Al-Hilali, who has been mufti of Australia since 1989, has rejected calls for his resignation over his remarks about women and rape. He apologized for the comments last week and agreed to stop preaching for three months.
The Australian reported Monday that al-Hilali used an Arabic-language radio interview two weeks ago to endorse militants in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.
"Jihad of Iraqi Muslims is jihad, but not when Sunnis and Shias are killing each other _ that's not jihad," the newspaper quoted al-Hilali as saying on Oct. 17.
It is illegal to incite violence against Australian troops. Australia, a staunch ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, has soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Howard said he did not know if al-Hilali's comments were being investigated.
"If you incite people to hurt our troops, that could be an offense," Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting radio.
Howard said Australia's 300,000 Muslims should be considering whether al-Hilali is the right person to represent them.
"The real worry I have, and it's a very deep worry, is that this will permanently damage the attitudes and perceptions of Muslims in the broader Australian community and I don't want that to happen," Howard said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
