2011-09-24 Australia : New mufti appointed

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Bolt: What does the mufti represent ?
Andrew Bolt |  Herald Sun  |  September 21, 2011 11:54AM

Another Mufti of Australia, another reason to wonder what exactly he represent- and whether we should worry?

This time our highest ranking  Islamic Cleric is Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, elected this week by the National Imams Council of Australia.

We're told he is moderate, likes to wear chic Western clothing, and is a famous scholar.

So far so good. Yet despite the fact that he has a PhD from an Egyptian University and has lived in Australia for almost 20 years, the Egyptian-born cleric still does not speak English, and needed an interpreter for his first press conference.

This surely makes him another bad choice. What signal does it send that a highly educated Muslim and a leader of his community feels no need to even learn the language of his new country - and, indeed, could live here quite succesfully for decades without it?

I can't say it is a assuring sign of Australian Muslims assimilating into this community, yet what other sign would Australians be hungrier to see?

After all, there are unfortunately plenty of reasons to fear that Muslims are not assimilating as well as other minorities, whether Hindus, Buddhists, Jews or Chinese.

Unemployment and crime rates are above the national average, while school results are below.

More disturbingly, the 20 people arrested for terrorism-related offences are all Muslims, and an us-against-them attitude seems not only worryingly common among the Muslim community, but is actually encouraged by Islamic teaching.

Of course, this impression may be false, but then along comes the new Mufti, literally not speaking our language.

What's more, his first message was to recommend sharia law, which Ibrahim said was compatible with Australian law.

www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/new-mufti-brings-new-concers/story-fn6bkm-1226142540034

Uusi mufti -uudet tuulet? Vai
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