By Andrew L. Jaffee

Internal Muslim politics in Australia are playing out like a soap opera — one where radicalism and corruption are major themes. The current “mufti” presiding over Australia’s national imams council got himself in hot water last year: “Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like ‘uncovered meat’.” A name being floated to replace Hilali is Mohammed Swaiti, who is currently under investigation by the tax office for taking Saudi money under the table, and reportedly “praised mujaheddin (holy warriors) in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Can you say “credibility problem?” From The Australian:

THE national imams council will next month strip the position of Australian mufti from Taj Din al-Hilali, who yesterday made a desperate attempt to shore up grassroots support within his community by returning to the pulpit. …

He was banned in November from preaching by the Lebanese Muslim Association following revelations in The Australian that he compared scantily clad women to uncovered meat and joked about the notorious Sydney gang rapes in a Ramadan sermon. …

The Weekend Australian understands Sheik Hilali, 66, was lobbying imams around the country to keep him in his position next month, amid accusations he would break up the council should it not re-elect him. [playing hard ball, huh?] …

Meanwhile, Dr Abdulla backed council member Mohammed Swaiti, saying the Australian Tax Office’s investigation into the hardline cleric would not harm the image of the imams board.

The tax office is investigating allegations that Sheik Swaiti failed to declare clerical allowances of up to $US30,000 ($36,000) a year, allegedly paid to him by the Saudi Government’s Dawah (donations) Office.

It was also alleged that Sheik Swaiti had been on the Saudi payroll for the past 12 years and had failed to declare payments he received from officiating at wedding ceremonies.

Canberra’s Muslim community yesterday called on the imams board to revoke Sheik Swaiti’s membership.

The Weekend Australia last month revealed that Sheik Swaiti, an ethnic Palestinian, praised mujaheddin (holy warriors) in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Islamic Society of ACT vice-president Mohammed Berjaoui said he feared that Sheik Swaiti’s radical views would influence others on the imams board. …