Well it appears that Michelle Leslie was the right kind of Muslim when before Indonesia's Justice system. But the Australian Sheik believe she is not the right kind of Muslim because she parades on the catwalk in her underwear. The fact is it demonstrates that being Muslim in a proven case of posession has its inequality in justice in Indonesia, while Chapelle Corby on circumstantial unproven evidence, being Christian, gets 20 years.

The very fact that the Australian Sheik can say Michelle used [or abused] her religion for judicial benefit indicates he at least believed being Muslim before the law in a Muslim country has benifits. It demonstrates moderate Islam in Australia does not believe in equality before the law otherwise the Sheik would not make such a comment. It also indicate how they want to control dress code of people who convert to the Muslim religion.

Herald Sun, Liam Houlihan and Clare Masters, 21 November 2005
"MUSLIM leaders are outraged that model Michelle Leslie ditched her headscarf for singlet and champers as she flew to Singapore after being deported from Bali as a convicted drug user. They branded the bodypaint-to-burqa convert a fake. "We've got no time for these pseudo-Muslims," said Dr Ameer Ali, head of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils. "I'd like to tell her: you can't have it both ways." Dr Ali said it was obvious Leslie was using Islam for her own convenience..."
At: http://heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,17309833,00.html

Leslie urged to give up modelling career
ABC News, 21 November 2005

"Islamic leaders say it would be offensive to other Muslims if convicted drug user Michelle Leslie resumed underwear modelling when she returns to Australia. During her trial, lawyers for Ms Leslie explained she was wearing a burqa covering her face and body because she was a Muslim. The Australian model, originally from Adelaide, walked free from a Bali prison on Saturday after her three-month sentence for the possession of ecstasy tablets expired. She is expected to return to Australia later this week...."

At: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1511240.htm

Devout Muslim or hot property

Daily Telegraph, Luke McIlveen and Dora Tsavdaridis, 19 November 2005

"AN Islamic leader has warned Michelle Leslie not to continue living as a Muslim if she plans to go back to modelling underwear. However the fashion industry was buzzing yesterday with the news of her freedom and the Antz Pantz model already has two bookings waiting for her in Australia. Leslie, who wore a hijab throughout her trial and claimed to have converted to Islam, came to court yesterday without the traditional head dress. While the high-profile model is expected to be the catwalk's hottest property when she returns, a senior Muslim accused her of treating the religion as a fad...."

At: http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17288850-5001021,00.html

Shakira has generalised from one tiny little slip made by an SMH reporter to the whole of the non-Muslim population. Frankly I'm insulted - it's a piece of stereotyping almost as foul as Sheik Fiaz Mohammad's. I may be white and be a loud and proud atheist, but this doesn't mean that I'm so bloody stupid that I need to be told that "moderate Muslims are as fearful of Muslim terrorists as non-Muslims are". It's a trite point, and the assumption that we whitefellas need to have it rammed down our throats is offensive.

I think we all worked out that there are "bad" Muslims and "good" Muslims. Even the poor bloody SMH reporter would understand this (though she was a little dazed from the image of Fred Hilmer's sword over her head).

The first two posts are reacting to the assumption that this is something we need to be told. If they are genuine, that is. How many of these replies were by some wicked trolls hell bent on portraying the opposition as stupid? Isn't anonymity wonderful: the things you can say and do, and none of it can come back to you.

Perhaps Shakira would be better to explain the more about Islam and the distinctions between its various offshoots (especially Wahhabism) so that we whiteys know which we are allowed to vilify.

Philo:

Bali is Buddhist. Not Muslim.

Mind you, Michelle Leslie's play with the hijab ain't gonna make it easier for the next westerner to get done up with a pair of smileys.

M L? well she surely spotlights this debate, while I am no fan of the girl surely the way she dressed on the way out of Bali was no sin?
Can anyone explain to me why those who we gave a new home to could think we need to dress like them?
If she is not Muslim why highlight her lie and ignore a million others we get daily from the middle east?
And just why should any relidgion tell me how to live? sorry but I do have the right to think if any God exists he/she should take control.
Bigotry is not nice and quite the fashion in may relidgios places at present.
One God? 100 Gods? or only your God?
Do you think it matters how we dress? hope its how we live that matters.

To all posters who are anti-Muslim

islamSydney found Heidi!

Thank you
"Peace"
Kay