…which the Sydney Morning Herald reports as an expression of loyalty to Australia. “Sheik calls for ‘ethical’ trial,” by David Braithwaite and Jacqueline Maley in the Sydney Morning Herald, with thanks to David:
Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly would quit and place masking tape over his mouth for six months if an impartial panel found him guilty of inciting rape.
While the masking tape might be a nice idea, of course he wasn’t inciting rape. He was just saying that rape are the fault of the women who are raped.
In a statement released before he spoke today at Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque, the sheik insists he was misreported as saying in a September sermon that scantily dressed women were like “uncovered meat” who invited sexual assault.
Of course. When has a jihadist ever, ever, been accurately reported when he made statements that jarred Western sensibilities?
“Any person, whatever his position may be, who justifies the crime of rape or encourages it under any circumstances, or whoever degrades Australian women for their dress, is nothing but an ignorant, foolish and crazy person who does not deserve to hold any position of responsibility, be it public or private, in our Australian society,” the statement says.
Translation: “I am now under pressure, and am telling the Australian media what they want to hear.”
Am I being ungenerous? This is a man who has praised Iraqi jihadists and 9/11. How anxious do you think he really is to assimilate into Australian society?
The sheik offered to be judged by an ethical tribunal made up of a judge and two lawyers, aided by two translators, to rule on the contents of the September 22 sermon.
If the panel found him guilty of inciting rape, he would:
– “Retire from all religious work and positions.”
– “Place a masking tape on my mouth in public places for six months to discipline this mouth for uttering these words.”
– “Commit myself to public service duties (600 hours in any women’s organisation which provides social services to Australian women).”
If acquitted, the sheik would make a decision about his future which “will serve democracy” and enhance “coexistence and harmony between the Muslim community and its Australian society away from extremism and racial fanaticism”.
The sheik did not state he would step down from his current leadership role, but he asked the Australian Federal Imams Board to open nominations for the position and call an election.
“The issue of the mufti of Australia is an Islamic issue and therefore an internal matter. It must be for the Muslim community to deal with,” he said.
“Therefore, I ask the secretary of the Australian Federal Imams’ Board to open the doors for nomination for any imam wishing to nominate himself for this position.
The Sheik delivered a speech to a crowd of more than 2000 worshippers who filled the mosque and spilled onto its outside steps this afternoon.
He called on his followers to support Australia: “We consider ourselves as servants to Allah firstly, and servants to Australian society secondly.”