Wafa Sultan in Australia

Fury over talks with anti-Islam thinker
Richard Kerbaj August 22, 2007

MODERATE Islamic leaders have attacked Howard Government ministers for meeting anti-Muslim thinker Wafa Sultan, accusing Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer of endorsing her view that Islam is evil.

The nation's most senior spiritual Muslim woman, Aziza Abdel-Halim, yesterday also accused the Government of double standards for barring radical Islamic clerics while allowing an equally "dangerous" thinker such as Dr Sultan to stage a secret visit.

"It's very disappointing and very shocking, really," Sister Abdel-Halim told The Australian. "Because on the one hand they claim to be trying to give a chance to the Muslim community to overcome any negative ideas or thoughts among people, and on the other hand, they are promoting people who are agitating and accomplishing division and igniting hatred."

She criticised Julia Gillard for meeting the US-based Dr Sultan, saying the private discussion -- which the Deputy Opposition Leader refused to comment on yesterday -- would reflect negatively on the ALP, which is trying to build bridges with Australia's Islamic community.

This comes after The Australian yesterday revealed that Dr Sultan -- who believes the West has been duped into believing there is a difference between radical and moderate Islam -- had met senior politicians during her two-week secret visit to the country.

It was also revealed that Dr Sultan -- a Muslim Syrian psychiatrist who shot to recognition last year after attacking Islam and Mohammed on al-Jazeera television -- were brainwashed from an early age to believe thatWestern values were evil.

A former member of John Howard's Muslim advisory committee, Mustapha Kara-Ali, who is openly hostile towards extremism, yesterday attacked Dr Sultan and compared her to former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

"She's the Middle East's version of Pauline Hanson," he said.

"Her message is one of hate, racism and discrimination and she has no place in Australia. No wonder she had to remain underground while in Australia ... because the Australian public would refuse her message," said Mr Kara-Ali.

But last night the Attorney-General and Foreign Minister defended their meeting with Dr Sultan. Mr Ruddock said she was entitled to express her views.

"Australia is a pluralist society," Mr Ruddock said.

"People are entitled to express their views. I have defended Muslims' rights to do do this and would defend others."

A spokesman for Mr Downer said the minster's views on Islam had not changed following his meeting with Dr Sultan. "He still holds the same views that he's articulated for the last five or six years," the spokesman said.

Shia Muslims pushed ideological differences aside and joined Sunnis in attacking Dr Sultan.

The president of the Sydney-based al-Sajjad Association, Salah Qurnawy, said Dr Sultan should not have been admitted into the country because her views would only create more "disharmony" between Muslims and the mainstream.

"She shouldn't be allowed here," he said.

Sister Abdel-Halim, president of the Muslim Womens National Network of Australia, said there was no difference between "promoting fundamentalist Islam and promoting anti-Islamic movements or thinking".

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,22286266-2702,00.html?from=public_rss

Links:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

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