Posted on 06/11/2007 4:33:31 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A prominent member of the Islamic community says he is disappointed Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilali decided to step aside as mufti.
The decision was announced yesterday after a meeting of the Australian National Imams Council in Melbourne.
Sheikh Al Hilali was re-elected Mufti of Australia at the meeting but he declined the position, and Sheikh Fehmi El-Imam was appointed the new head cleric in Australia.
The new Mufti, who is from Melbourne's Preston Mosque, is described as a moderate and says he hopes to foster good relations with the rest of the Australian community.
But Keysar Trad from the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia says Sheikh Al Hilali may have decided to step aside because of government pressure.
He says he believes the Federal Government pressured members of the Islamic community to withdraw support for Sheikh Al Hilali by threatening to stop funding to organisations that back him.
"For the last six months or so we've been hearing the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Immigration - the new Minister for Immigration - criticising the mufti [Sheikh Al Hilali] and making either direct or indirect calls on the community to replace him," he said.
"This level of government intervention I'm sure would have influenced some of the people at this meeting."
Mr Trad, a supporter of Sheikh Al Hilali, says Sheikh Fehmi is far less qualified.
"If we pit his qualifications against the mufti [Al Hilali] there's a vast difference in the qualifications," he said.
"The mufti remains the most qualified person for this job and it's strange to find out that Sheikh Fehmi, who's a good person for all intents and purposes, has agreed to accept this position.
"I would have expected him to decline it and reassert his confidence in the mufti."
Meanwhile, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils has called for unity in the Muslim community.
The federation's president, Ikebal Patel, paid tribute to the work of Sheikh Al Hilali but said it was now time to support the new Mufti.
"He has done tremendous work, but now there may be a need for everybody to throw their weight behind Sheikh Fehmi and let him do his work."
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