MUSLIM clerics would be subject to a strict new code of behaviour under a plan being devised by Islamic leaders in Australia to rein in the inflammatory language of some extremist imams. The head of John Howard's Muslim Advisory Council, Ameer Ali, told The Australian yesterday that guidelines to control religious leaders would be thrashed out at a special meeting next month. "At the moment, we have no control over these imams, we don't know what the credentials of these imams are, what their qualifications are -- everybody gives sermons," said Dr Ali, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. "So we want to have some sort of order in this chaos."
| Like I've said on a number of occasions, any idiot can issue a fatwah, and many do... |
Under the proposal, first discussed at a meeting of Muslim leaders in August, a new national board of imams would set guidelines for religious figures and monitor their sermons. Dr Ali said the board of imams would set "rules and regulations about sermons and who gives the sermons". The idea is believed to have the backing of many moderate Muslim leaders, but it has infuriated firebrand Melbourne cleric Sheik Mohammed Omran.  "They don't have authority, they don't have the power, they don't have any licence to talk about that," he said last night.
| No more license than the guys giving the jihad sermons, in fact... |
Dr Ali's comments come a day after the defiant Sheik Omran told The Australian the Howard Government should be held partly responsible for demonising Muslims and promoting terrorism.
| Keep in mind that as Moose limbs they're incapable of controlling their own actions... |
| Allan helps those who can't help themselves. |
Sheik Omran, who was not invited to the Prime Minister's summit of moderate Islamic leaders earlier this year, said he was no more radical than many other imams in Australia, but accused other clerics of being too afraid to speak their mind.
| That tells me only that he's not the only turban in Australia who needs to be examined and... ummm... dealt with. |
But Dr Ali, spokesman for the Muslim Reference Group set up by the Howard Government to act as a go-between for the community and Canberra, said some clerics, including Sheik Omran, required "re-education" about their religion and advice on how to deliver sermons without encouraging "violence" or inciting young Muslims to extremism. "These (clerics) need some re-education about their own religion," Dr Ali said. "Not only in their subject matter, but how to communicate with youngsters; the language they use. In these sermons, these imams are not questioned. They have the monopoly, they say whatever they like and they get out of it."
| I'm sure the stemwinder sermons are a lot more fun than the guys who drone on and on, just like in churches. The Paks are quite enamored of "fiery" preachers. But I somehow doubt that reeducation is going to work. Now, a plane ticket for Sheikh Omran, that might work. |
While not singling out Sheik Omran, head of the Melbourne-based Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaah Association, Dr Ali yesterday raised the prospect of censoring clerics. "If, in the interest of the wider community, certain language and the way of speaking should be censored, you should do that," he said. But Dr Ali said of Sheik Omran: "I don't think he directly promotes terrorism in this country."
| Not directly, of course. Indirectly is a different matter... |
He said Sheik Omran and other clerics should be more "guarded" in their language. "Young people are gullible. They are ready to listen to people who have radical views and I suppose Sheik Omran in his sermons has used that language and wants that support."
| I suppose he has and he does. It's part and parcel with the practice of moving in and setting up your own local caliphate. Once it's in existence and doing business, nobody can seem to figure how to get rid of it. |
Dr Ali also criticised Sheik Faiz Mohamad, from Global Islamic Youth Centre in Sydney, for a lecture he delivered to a crowd of more than 1000 people in March, in which he said female rape victims had only themselves to "blame".
| It's fairly common theme in sermons among the Faithful™, I believe. |
"There's an imam in Sydney ... who made a statement that there are girls in this country that deserve to be raped -- that's all rubbish," Dr Ali said. Sheik Faiz reportedly told public followers at a public meeting in Bankstown: "A victim of rape every minute somewhere in the world. Why? No one to blame but herself. She displayed her beauty to the entire world. Strapless, backless, sleeveless, nothing but satanic skirts, slit skirts, translucent blouses, miniskirts, tight jeans: all this to tease man and appeal to his carnal nature."
| "Milk-white bosoms and smooth, trembling thighs! Rounded buttocks! Pouty red lips and... and... I must shoot off! My gun! I must shoot off my gun! That's it... |
The interpretation of certain aspects of Islam will also be discussed during a meeting of Muslim leaders, where the registration plan will be formalised. Mr Howard and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock will be invited to the meeting, scheduled to take place early in the new year. "How we interpret some of the concepts in Islam -- these are (also) the issues that the imams are going to discuss," Dr Ali said. |
