A DEFIANT Sheik Taj Aldin al Hilali says he will only resign when the world is "clean of the White House". Under pressure to step down following his comments suggesting immodestly dressed women invite sexual assault, Australia's leading Muslim cleric did nothing to ease simmering tensions yesterday.
After emerging from prayers at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque surrounded by dozens of followers, Sheik Hilali was asked if he would quit.
After we clean the world of the White House first, the sheik said, before being ushered into a waiting car.
His supporters cheered and applauded at the salvo aimed squarely at U.S.
President George W. Bush and indirectly at Prime Minister John Howard.
The sheik previously has described Mr Bush, Mr Howard and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the axis of evil and has been accused of applauding suicide bombers.
Mr Howard would not comment on the White House barb but earlier had warned the sheik's actions could cause a lasting backlash against Muslims, a fear echoed by Islamic groups.
What I am saying to the Islamic community is this: 'If they do not resolve this matter, it could do lasting damage to the perceptions of that community within the broader Australian community', Mr Howard told Southern Cross radio.
Sheik Hilali is to take a break from preaching in the wake of the controversy, which has attracted international attention.
The Lebanese Muslim Association, however, also fears a split in the Islamic community and has told the sheik to tone down his comments in future.
Association president Tom Zreika believes the sheik is arming sections of the broader Australian community for further animosity toward Muslims.
The mufti is providing ammunition for that, he said.
His comments aren't helping. We've got to watch the way we're arming everybody to attack us.
Not in the near future, but it harbours ill-feeling toward another group.
He said he would do his best (to tone his comments down). He's got to be able to be more eloquent.
Mr Zreika said many association members were embarrassed by the mufti's comments, made in a sermon last month.
He said he was not speaking for all Muslims.
The board of the association which runs Lakemba Mosque where the sheik preaches, met Sheik Hilali on Thursday and decided not to take any action against him. Other Muslim figures want the sheik to stand down over the sermon, in which he also said women were to blame for adultery in 90 per cent of cases.
Sheik Hilali's position at the mosque would be reviewed when he returned from holiday, Mr Zreika said. Supporter and president of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, Keysar Trad, said the sheik would not resign but would take a break for several months and make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Sheik Hilali did not deliver his usual sermon as several thousand Muslims attended prayers at the mosque yesterday.
Mr Trad said the sheik's comments were misrepresented and he had been upset by the reaction.
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said everyone claimed to have been taken out of context when caught, and it is not good enough just to say he will be silent for three months .
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