CONTROVERSIAL Muslim leader Sheik Taj al Din al-Hilaly has been sacked as mufti by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC). The AFIC has also abolished the role of mufti, severed all ties with the sheik and stopped paying his salary, Fairfax Newspapers report.AFIC President Ikebal Patel said the organisation owned the title of mufti and had stopped paying Sheik Hilaly's salary. The role of mufti has now become redundant following a decision by the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC). The council has decided to create a community of imams to deal with community issues and a chairman or president will be selected as spokesperson.
But the Egyptian-born sheik has fought back and registered the title of mufti for himself.
The move to oust Sheik Hilaly comes as Australian Federal Police investigate allegations that he gave charity funds to supporters of the al-Qaeda and Hezbollah terrorist organisations.
His sacking follows a string of controversies which have embarrassed the Islamic community. Last year the sheik likened scantily-clad women to uncovered meat and then, during a visit to Egypt, said Muslims had more right to be in Australia than Europeans.
ANIC spokesman Mohamad Abdalla said 39 of the 50 clerics who attended the ANIC conference last month voted against reappointing him. “Muslims don't want al-Hilaly as mufti,” Dr Abdalla said. Sheik Hilaly will cease to be mufti once his three-month grace period ended, Dr Abdalla said.
Fairfax reports that the sheik, who is in Turkey at a conference, has established his own organisation in a bid to corner the title of mufti for himself.