Sheik Taj Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly, the spiritual head of Australia’s Muslim community, is doing his bit for the plight of Douglas Wood, who has been kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in Iraq. His message? I agree with your jihad, but please release this man.
The spiritual leader of Australia’s Muslim community says he hopes to get Douglas Wood’s captors to agree to more time before carrying out their execution threat.Sheik Taj Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly today boarded a plane at Sydney Airport for Dubai in the first leg of his mercy mission to Iraq, saying he hoped to extend a deadline by 48 hours.The kidnappers have demanded that Australian troops be pulled out of Iraq by 5am tomorrow (Australian time), or Mr Wood will be killed.The sheik said he would be in touch with contacts on the ground but there had already been indirect contact with people involved in Mr Wood’s capture.He said he hoped to bring Douglas Wood back home as soon as possible.—-AAP reports: During his weekend statement, al Hilaly said in Arabic that he regarded the 63-year-old as our brother, a fellow Australian and an innocent man.He said Mr Wood should not suffer because of politics whether they be right or wrong, but his apparent sympathy for the captors’ jihad has since drawn some criticism.A Sunni Muslim, like the suspected kidnappers, Sheik al Hilaly has been in contact with Sunni scholars in Iraq.“We value your jihad and your efforts and we call upon you to do something for the sake of our community and all Australian society, which does not support (Prime Minister John) Howard’s pro-American policies,” he said.“You know the Australian forces in Iraq are protected by American forces and don’t do anything – it’s all politics.“We implore you to release him in the name of God, for the sake of the Islamic community in Australia … and for the sake of the family of Douglas Wood.”
Granted, there is a chance that the Sheik is merely trying to talk the terrorist’s language, in order to increase the likelihood of Mr Wood’s release. But even if this was the case, his former translator believes he went too far.
His former translator, Keysar Trad, was today critical of the use of the word jihad.“I think one of the main reasons that he would have used this term is to win favour with the people holding Mr Wood captive, to show them that he understands their plight and what they’re doing,” Mr Trad told ABC radio.“If this is what they think they’re doing, then he’s not disputing that with them but he believes that they’re wrong in holding Mr Wood captive.“Now he has used language that’s not consistent with our expectations as Australians and I think he could have stopped at the first part of his statement without going this far and the message would have been just as clear.”
But let’s not play any games here. We all know what Sheik Taj Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly stands for. Not to mention the President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.
But the President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Amir Ali, who stood next to Sheik Alhilali during his appeal, said there nothing wrong with his message.“The word jihad is misunderstood,” Dr Ali said. “The jihad is a war that you fight in self defence and they are trying to free the country from foreign occupation.”
I have said it before, and I will now say it again: People have to question the loyalities of officials in the Australian Muslim community. They may talk the language of “brotherhood” with their fellow Australians, but the only “hood” they really identify with is the one worn by the terrorists who behead their victims.
If any Australian Muslims read this site, I implore you to speak out and dissociate yourself from your leadership. Better yet, have them ousted, and replaced by Muslims who truly abhor murder, rather than support it.
Update: I just love constructive feedback.
Re: Re: A Step in the Right Direction
by Anonymous at 09:28AM (IDT) on May 9, 2005f**** you all moher f*****s f*** you toRe: Re: Re: A Step in the Right Direction
by Anonymous at 09:30AM (IDT) on May 9, 2005
Islam will destruct you no matter how hard you try. stop trying and convert to the truth.
The IP address of our articulate friend comes from New South Wales, Australia. Which means that there are clearly Muslims living in Australia who are having loyalty (as well as grammar) problems.
I only hope sentiments like these are in the minority.
