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| Down Under |
| Rally to support embattled Sydney cleric |
| 2006-11-01 |
| The head of Sydney's Lebanese Muslim Association says he has no concerns that Saturday's rally in support of embattled Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali will turn violent. Association president Tom Zreika has told the Nine Network that rally goers, who will meet at the Lakemba mosque, have been urged to think of India's peaceful campaigner, Mahatma Gandhi. "We've been out telling people to just relax, take it easy, it should be a calm day," Mr Zreika said. "Think of Gandhi when you're out there because the last thing that we want to do is stir up more emotions and more trouble. The point is, if you really want this message to come out, do it in the legal way, don't break the law, obviously and have fun." An SMS message is circulating, calling on Muslims to attend the "peaceful" rally. Mr Zreika said he also had sought the approval of police to stage the rally, and he said sufficient officers would be provided to assure public safety. Sheik Alhilali is recuperating in hospital after collapsing during a meeting that was to decide his future, following the public outcry over a sermon in which he likened immodest women to "uncovered meat" who invited assault. Mr Zreika said it was not up to him to remove the sheik from his position, and he called for a "fair go" for him. "It's not a matter for me, it is a matter for the Australian Muslim public. I resonate what they say," Mr Zreika said. "There are calls - I'm not going to say that there are no calls ... but he has apologised, he has given an explanation, he has asked for more time to recover. Now, it is up to us to give him a fair go according to Australian standards. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 As long as they understand they are rallying in support of rape. In support of defining women as "meat". In support of demanding women remain hidden under an abiya in some dark corner of a house and never permitted out alone or uncovered. Such a noble rally. Best break out the burkhas girls least you be "peacefully" raped at this event. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-11-01 19:08 |
| #4 'Rally for Rape' - got a great ring to it. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-11-01 18:59 |
| #3 HHHHMMMMMM, HHHHHHMMMMMM, ANTI-AMERICAN GLOBAL SECULAR/SOCIALIST STATE vs ANTI-AMER GLOBAL RADICAL MUSLIM STATE vs ANTi-AMER GLOBAL MAFIA STATE vs ............@ > IOW, the world will all be happy and equal when someone else has our rights, our freedoms, our money, wealth, women, lands, homes, .......goldfish and pet dogs, etc. WE'RE FREE, D *** NG IT, NOT SLAVES. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-11-01 04:18 |
| #2 The point is, if you really want this message to come out, do it in the legal way, don't break the law, obviously and have fun." I thought the message was that it is ok to rape women without a hijab. Tough to do that the "legal" way. However, I'm sure if you are following Sharia - you can find a way to both make that legal and have fun. Seriously - this is an outrage and I hope that the Australians will begin to realize how dangerous this is becoming. Clearly - the "moderate muslims" who insisted that his comments did not represent the views of many Muslims were mistaken. |
| Posted by: Clkethel OHlkdj 2006-11-01 04:14 |
| #1 The head of Sydney's Lebanese Muslim Association says he has no concerns that Saturday's rally in support of embattled Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali will turn violent. Horse snot ... I mean "of course not", Zreika knows that the rally will turn violent. Ergo, his lack of concern. I will post a retraction right here at Rantburg if this demonstration goes off without any violence. I'll give myself this one out; If Aussie counter-protesters show up and festivities ensue, it counts as violence even if the Aussies start it because, after all of the antagonism al-Hilali has spewed, it's difficult to imagine that Sydneysiders won't go ballistic at the drop of a fatwah. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-11-01 01:34 |