Hardline Islamic Clerics in Australia
This post is not intended to be a racial slur on Muslims or the Islamic religion. I also do not intend for these comments to be interpreted as being directed at the Muslim community in general. If you don’t believe me I don’t care!
As reported in “The Australian” newspaper and elsewhere, a minority of “hardline” clerics are urging their followers to cheat the tax system as paying taxes is contrary to Islamic law. They are also alledgedly indicating that cheating the welfare system is also the way to go. This comes not long after Sheik Taj el Din al Hilali compared Australian women to plates of meat.
Australia was built on immigration and generally people who come to live in our great land appreciate the diversity that exists here. They are also quite willing to work hard and pay their share of taxes. This included I am sure most of the people of the Islamic faith who call Australia home.
It seems however that when such outrageous claims are made by an influential minority we are expected to turn the other cheek and say that everyone is entitled to their opinion. While this is true, I wonder what the reaction would be if I went to a Muslim country and suggested that it was not appropriate to pay zakat towards charitable causes as is required under sharia law. I would suggest that I would not be welcome in that particular country for very long.
Enough is enough. Racism is racism whether perpetrated by “whites”, “blacks” or any colour in between. It seems odd that Imams that make these outrageous claims are not branded as such.
Rant over.
