Do you remember the mufti of Australia and New Zealand, Taj Al-Din Hamed Abdallah Al-Hilali? He was documented as supporting suicide bombers and terrorism in a speech he made in Lebanon.
In response, the Australian Multicultural Affairs Minister has suggested that the Australian Muslim community strip him of the honorary title “Mufti.” Officials in the Muslim community have reacted to this reasonable request by demanding an apology from the Australian government, while invoking the standard “he was misquoted” defence.
A spokesman for the Mufti, Keysar Trad, said the politicians who had criticised Sheikh Hilali, including Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, should apologise to him and to Muslims.
“They have seized on comments which have been misrepresented to demonise an outstanding member of the community,” he said.
Misrepresented? It is not like he only made one ambiguous statement. There is practically his whole speech for all and sundry to see! By unequivocally backing the Sheikh’s version of events and demanding an apology, one may question the loyalties of some members of the Australian Muslim community (as if this doesn’t already raise enough doubts).
