The Age, January 19, 2007
Sheikh sparks outrage
[PHOTO: Sheikh Feiz Muhammad.]
Carolyn Webb
A controversial Muslim leader who has advocated martyrdom to children and
described Jews as pigs could face up to 15 years in jail if charged under Australian
anti-terror laws.
Political and religious figures, including local Islamic leaders, yesterday accused
Sheikh Feiz Muhammad of inciting hatred and terrorism through recorded lectures
that have been sold in Australia on DVD.
Federal police confirmed they were investigating 16 DVDs, sold under the Death
Series title, featuring sermons by Sheikh Muhammad, the head of the Global Islamic
Youth Centre in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool.
In one of the DVDs, Sheikh Muhammad advocates offering children "as soldiers
defending Islam".
"Teach them this: there is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a
mujahid (holy warrior)," Sheikh Muhammad says. "Put in their soft, tender hearts the
zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom."
In another passage, Sheikh Muhammad says that being a disbeliever is "filth" and
makes pig noises after stating that "Jews are pigs that will be killed at the end of the
world".
The DVDs came to light after the airing on Britain's Channel 4 this week of a
documentary, Undercover Mosque. Its producers bought the series from children
selling Islamic materials outside a mosque in England.
Copies were still on sale yesterday in an Islamic bookshop in the Sydney suburb of
Lakemba, and on the Sydney youth centre's website.
Acting federal Attorney-General Kevin Andrews denounced the sheik's remarks as
"reprehensible and offensive" and said the Government was concerned about a
"developing pattern of behaviour" among some Islamic clerics. "The importation of
hatred into Australia is totally unacceptable," he said.
Sheikh Muhammad was born in Australia to Lebanese parents, but has been living in
Lebanon for the past year, which could complicate any plan to prosecute him under
Australian law. Canberra does not have an extradition agreement with Beirut.
He became a controversial figure in 2005 when he told an audience in Bankstown,
Sydney, that women were solely to blame for being raped. "Strapless, backless,
sleeveless, they are nothing but satanical," he said. "Mini-skirts, tight jeans — all this
to tease men and to appeal to (their) carnal nature."
Yesterday, NSW Premier Morris Iemma called on Canberra to use sedition laws to
outlaw the DVDs. "He has gone way beyond the sort of outrageous and stupid
comments made in recent times by the other sheikh," said Mr Iemma, referring to
Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali. "This fellow is inciting people to commit acts of terror," Mr
Iemma said.
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said the comments were "obscene in the
extreme" and called on the Government to act against the sheikh. "As I see it, Sheikh
Muhammad's statements add up to an incitement to terrorism," he said. "I would say
this to Sheikh Muhammad: Do not return to Australia, you are not welcome here."
Jeremy Jones, of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, accused Sheikh
Muhammad of "engaging in a campaign of poisoning minds" against the Australian
way of life. "Feiz Mohammed comes across like a very angry fanatic, which is very
dangerous, particularly as someone who wants to be inspiring youth," he said.
Michael Lipshutz, chairman of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission, said he
was concerned that Sheikh Muhammad's "racist anti-Semitic diatribe" reflected a
rising level of anti-Semitism in the Muslim community.
Mr Lipshutz said the comments "should rally the Muslim community to combat this
intolerable, vile epidemic among its members".
Keysar Trad, of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, said Sheikh
Muhammad had gone against Muslim ideals of "being a good person, a good citizen,
a good samaritan and a positive constructive part of society".
Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Waleed Aly said: "If (authorities) genuinely
believe there has been a breach of the law, then I don't think anyone can object to that
law being applied. This sort of preaching is a real concern."
Human rights lawyer Lex Lasry, QC, said under the Criminal Code, it was an offence
to intentionally recruit (including incite and encourage) a person to participate in
terrorism. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Ali Khalil, a member of the Global Islamic Youth Centre, last night described Sheik
Muhammad as a "great bloke" and said his comments could have been
misinterpreted. "Dying for the cause of Islam … or dying as a jihad doesn't necessarily
mean going to war and killing someone and you dying in the process."
But Mr Khalil, 24, said he did not agree with the sheikh's comments about Jews. "I
wouldn't like to be called that and I wouldn't like to call anyone that," he said.
With PETER KER, JANO GIBSON, NICK O'MALLEY, AAP
Copyright © 2007. The Age Company Ltd.
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