LINDA MOTTRAM: The most prominent Islamic spiritual leader in Australia has joined the growing chorus of opposition to any Australian military involvement in US-led action against Iraq.
But with community sensitivities sharpened by last year’s September 11 events in the US and all that’s followed in response, the Mufti, Sheikh Taj Alddin Hamed Al Hilali, is adamant that Muslims in Australia would react no differently to any other Australians, should war eventuate.
The Mufti says that America is acting out of self-interest, and says that it’s prime motivation to take control of Iraqi oil reserves. So, he says, it would be “stupid” for Australia to become involved in any war; And if Prime Minister John Howard chose that path, he’d been acting against the wishes of all the Australian people.
Our reporter Tanya Nolan was granted a private audience with the Mufti, and filed this report for AM.
TANYA NOLAN: The nation’s highest Imam leads the evening prayer at the country’s largest mosque in south-western Sydney. And the man who considers himself father to 27 nationalities within the Muslim community, feels the burden of responsibility especially heightened these days – with the prospect that Australia may become involved in any war with Iraq; and sheik Taj Alddin Hamed al Hilali says Australia would be naive to believe that America is only interested in toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime.
TAJ ALDDIN HAMED AL HILALI [translation]: Those who don’t know much about politics would wrongly believe that America wants to remove Saddam from power. However, that is not the intention of America. The intention of America is to take control of the regions that have oil reserves, and they want to place this control under their own hands.
For this reason, Australia has no interest whatsoever in going alongside America in this mission. It would be in fact quite stupid for us to go alongside with them when their intention is to take control of oil leases for themselves.
TANYA NOLAN: Sheik Hilali says after September 11, America had a chance to show maturity and compassion by trying to more fully understand the causes of terrorism, and he says President Bush should seek out justice only in consensus with the international community.
Instead he says, America will fail in Iraq, as it failed in Afghanistan.
TAJ ALDDIN HAMED AL HILALI [translation]: Saddam has more than 40 presidential palaces