Australian Muslims need Generic Leadership
By Syed Atiq ul Hassan, Sydney
In Australia, 1.5 % of total population is Muslim and Islam is the third most common religion after Christianity and
Buddhism. Australian Muslims are the mixture of people from different ethnic backgrounds but dominated by the Lebanese
and Turkish.
In the last 30 years the religious leaders and imams have demonstrated a great deal of commitment and enthusiasm in the
development of Mosques and Islamic centres. There are many Islamic societies, councils and a federation in Australia.
However, the vision of these individual organizations has been limited to their own ethnic group or sect. Even the
mosques are distinguished by the ethnic background of the management of the mosque, like the Lebanese mosque, Turkish
mosque, Pakistani mosque, Indonesian mosque, Bengali mosque and so on despite of the fact that each mosque has an
official name.
It is quite understandable that, in Australia, as the Muslims came from different parts of the world they brought with
them their own living-style, culture, social trends and political thoughts. Nevertheless, this is not something
extraordinary with the Muslim community alone; it may be the same situation with the other communities. When the people
of a particular community live in multicultural, multiethnic and multi-religious society their representatives have to
be very open-minded, diplomatic, tolerable, forbearing and communal. They must know how to live with others and how to
respect the others' culture, faith and thoughts.
Islam also teaches to respect the faith and beliefs of others. Prophet Mohammad denounced racism and sectarianism at the
most. Unfortunately, things are not different among Australian Muslims compared to how Muslims are divided globally into
racial and sectarian sections.
The division within the Muslim community is not only a major cause of failing to designate a single representative into
the mainstream society but it is also playing a major role within Muslims to commemorate their religious activities. For
example; almost every year, Australian Muslims of different ethnic or sectarian background celebrate the major annual
festival of Eid on different days. Noticeably, the common Muslims are found helpless at uniting their leaders to
celebrate their holy occasions together.
The credit goes to imams and leaders of the individual groups. Unfortunately, within the community, the so-called
leaders and heads of various societies, councils and the federation have never demonstrated that they have
responsibility to unify and consolidate the entire Muslim community and lead them in a direction to identify themselves
as an Australian Muslim rather than Lebanese, Turkish, Pakistani and so on. These leaders spend most of their time and
energy in promoting themselves within their groups. If any problem or issue arises they just try to cash the event for
their own vested interest and publicity.
The Muslims started to arrive in Australia after the abolition of White Australia policy in the early 1970s. Since then
a new Australian-born generation of Muslims has grown-up. Unfortunately, for these Australian-born Muslims there is no
unified political direction as per the needs of a multicultural Australia. The leaders of the running organizations and
imams are found incapable to provide a cohesive platform - a platform where the Muslim community issues, problems and
thoughts can be appropriately represented into the mainstream Australia.
The Australian Muslims need a true leader for the entire Muslim community who possess deep political sense and who can
provide a constructive guideline to the Australian Muslims in dealing with emerging issues in mainstream society.
Common Australian Muslims are found very constructive and affirmative in building a unified and harmonious Australia.
They have, evidently proved that whatsoever the situation may be against the Muslims internationally - they have to deal
the situation according to the demand as one Australian nation. In public comments and interviews, it has hardly been
noticed that any Muslim has abused or condemned Australian society. On the other hand, the so-called leaders without
realizing the impact of their statements and without having command on the issue, articulate such conflicting thoughts
that the entire Muslim community has to pay significant cost time and again.
The recent statement of Sheik Taj Hilaly has shocked the majority in the Australian Muslim community. The Sheik Hilaly
was invited to appear on Egyptian television to explain his disputed sermon where he had compared women who show some
skin to uncovered pieces of meat that invite predators. Instead, Sheik Hilaly has set off a new controversy, claiming
Muslims have more right to be in Australia than the descendants of convicts. He further said that westerners were the
world's biggest liars and accused the media of trying to bring him down.
Sheik Taj Hilaly has again embarrassed the Australian Muslims on his nonsense, inappropriate and unnecessary comments.
Sheik Hilaly's biggest regret in dealing with the issues is his English communication. However, whatever he said in his
recent interview against Australians in Egypt was not so complicated to translate correctly in English; therefore, he
cannot be excused this time.
Sheik Hilaly might be an acceptable religious leader performing the job of Mufti for a section of Muslims but what he
has demonstrated until now in dealing with the political, social and other issues should be enough to substantiate his
incapability and incompatibility as a true representative of Australian Muslims. If the Muslim community still endures
its so-called leaders like Sheik Hilaly then, eventually, it will have to pay unrecoverable costs.
The Australian Muslim community needs a visionary and a political minded person who should play a positive role in the
integration of Australian Muslims into the mainstream society.
Australian Muslims are playing a significant role in the cultural and religious diversity of Australia and it should
continue. Australian Muslims are the vital bridge between Australia and the Islamic world. Hence, this is the real
testing time for the Muslims of Australia especially in the on going international crises in the Muslim world that they
should, jointly, take immediate action to bring those people in the frontline who can competently lead the community in
the right direction in enjoying the wonderful democratic values of Australia.
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(The writer is a Sydney-based Journalist, Foreign Correspondent a Media Analyst, JP, and an active community member.)