Fed: Sheik should consider leaving Australia: PM

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2007
Fed: Sheik should consider leaving Australia: PM

MELBOURNE, April 10 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has backed calls for controversial
mufti Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali to consider leaving Australia, saying he is an embarrassment
to most Australian Muslims.

Both the government and opposition have called for the sheik to be sacked and to leave
the country after he called on Australian Muslims to back Iran's hardline regime.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) suspended the sheik's salary last
year after he likened scantily-clad women to uncovered meat.

Last week, the council said his future would be decided by the National Council of Imams by June.

Speaking on the Nine Network tonight, Mr Howard backed statements from Immigration
Minister Kevin Andrews yesterday that the sheik should think about leaving Australia.

"He certainly, in the words of Kevin Andrews, should make up his mind whether he wants
to be an active, articulate, free-speaking member of the Australian community or, if he
doesn't, he ought to go somewhere else," Mr Howard said.

"I think he is an embarrassment to his own religious flock.

"I feel sorry for the 99 per cent of Australian Muslims who are obviously embarrassed
by this man."

AAP jrd/srp/mn

KEYWORD: SHEIK HOWARD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.