The fall of a Mufti !

The vast majority of Australians have no idea how the hierarchy of Islam works. They assume that when " the Mufti " speaks he is the official spokesman of that religion, much as the Pope represents Catholicism and the Archbishop of Canterbury heads the Church of England.
There is no formal line of command in the Islamic world. Anyone can preach - and if they command sufficient audiences - they are leaders and can assume various titles - Imams or event Mufti.
Unfortunately the man bearing the Mufti title here - Sheik Al Hilaly - happens to be a person with strong anti-Australian feelings who seems to favour the dogma put forward by extremist Osama bin Laden. He has gone out of his way to deliver spiteful sermons, demonising Australian women for not adopting Islamic attire and claiming that Muslims have more right to Australia than Australian citizens.
Hearing this, many Australians have come to the conclusion that this is the feeling of most Muslims living in this country.
Now moderate Muslims have struck back. Mufti Al Hilaly has been stripped of his title and the Muslim community has ceased to pay his stipend. He has been banned from preaching sermons in the Lakemba mosque.
In a surprise move, Al Hilaly has tried to register the term " Mufti " as his personal property, a move rejected by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils ( AFIC ) who compare it to Fred Nile trying to register the title of " Cardinal ".
The downfall of Al Hilaly will do much to clear the air and make it clear to most Australians that the great majority of Muslims living here do not share his views and wish to live in peace - happily under Australian law.
Few would want to live under Sharia law, which imposes amputation for theft and condones a verdict of stoning to death for women convicted of adultery. In it's extreme form it bans music, television, make-up and anything but the most enveloping of attire.
Al Hilaly may continue to make his views known and they will be reported by the media, but Australians will now know that they represent only the band of extremists who form part of his cult - and they have been rejected by the wider Muslim community.
Sanity is now prevailing - and the mischief that this deceitful man has been practising in the name of his religion has been exposed. The Muslim community will be applauded for finding it's voice and casting out a leader who sought to build a wall between moderate Muslims and the rest of Australia !