Islamic leader annoys, falls sick — AUSTRALIA | 世界のニュースを英語で読むならジャパンタイムズウィークリー


	UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010 The Japan Times Weekly 2006年11月4日号（バックナンバー）

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AUSTRALIA
Islamic leader annoys, falls sick

Battling widespread condemnation and failing health, Australia's beleaguered Islamic leader Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali stepped aside and conceded that his comparison of women without head scarves to "uncovered meat" was not appropriate in Western society.

Islamic leader Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali. AP PHOTO

The cleric was admitted to a hospital Oct. 30 after weathering accusations in the media that he had blamed immodestly dressed women for rape in a sermon in his Sydney mosque.

The pressure on him to resign heightened the same day when a newspaper reported that he had recently used an interview on Arabic radio to endorse Islamic militants.

Prime Minister John Howard said the man who holds the title of mufti of Australia, the most senior cleric in the nation, might have broken counterterrorism laws which prohibit incitement of violence against Australian soldiers deployed overseas.

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