Media bias in all things is to be condemned.

What I don't understand is that the author is from a persecuted minority currently being killed or involuntarily deported from Iraq.

Now, bearing in mind the Christian maxim of 'turn the other cheek', I am not sure whether to congratulate the author on his fair mindedness or stupidity/insensitivity to his own community.

As for Pastor Danny representing Christianity cf a grand mufti, and noting Sancho's reference to Cardinal Pell, it may be of interest that the current NSW Premier is on Hansard as saying:

"I think Cardinal Pell ...can invite further comparisons with that serial boofhead Sheik Al Hilali."

Now that's some unbiased talk I would like from a democratically elected Muslim..

I don't get it , I mean why should I have to forfeit my const. rights of free speech simply to avoid insulting a Muslim ?

If I feel uncomfortable with some aspect of Muslim Law , why shouldn't I say so ?

Racism is alive in every country , OZ is no exception , although I reckon we are more into honesty and freedom than most .

Why did our Moslem's abort their homeland ?

Were our Moslem's baited into coming here ?

Why did they come here ? Was it to impact on some imbalance ? Were they charged with a duty to round up the wayward sons and daughters of the 18 th century Cameliers ?

Will they get upset if I inform them that when I see someone , possibly male or Female , could be Isama Bin Laden how would you know , fully covered head to foot ware totally unidentifiable ...that my skin crawls . I don't like it . But to avoid being branded a raciest , the French did recently but I didn't .

What amazes me is the utterances of some of the Mufti's , they leave me stunned on human rights issues especially , here they represent the crudest form of humanity imaginable . Female emancipation indeed .

In reply to Sancho on Monday at 11:57:10 AM.

I am fully aware that there has been controversy or dissension over Sheik Taj El-Din Al-Hilaly's role or title within the Muslim community. But again, as that ABC Sunday Profile of March 7, 2004 notes: "Sheik Hilaly is known as the Mufti of Australia, the pre-eminent post in the Australian Moslem world". Are you suggesting that the ABC too is part of a xenophobic alliance gainst Muslims in this country?

You also suggest that, "if George Pell made a provocative statement about Islamic women, do you doubt that the Arab media would stir the pot by casting him as Australia's sole Christian leader?" Well, I'm sure that the Arab (or Malaysian) media would do this but how exactly does this help your case? They would probably do it if Danny Nalliah made such statements but they would be even more untrue.

The main problem with this article is that there's really no such thing as an Australian Christian community, whereas despite its diversity (I am acknowledging it here), there does appear to be an Australian Muslim community. It's referred to by the academic Abdullah Saeed in the Sunday Profile program of March 7, 2004: "I think any religious leader who cannot bring together the entire Muslim community behind him on important issues of interest to the community can be quite problematic for the community".

But George Pell and especially Danny Nalliah cannot be seen as religious leaders who could bring together an entire Christian community on "important issues of interest to (that) community". Because that community doesn't exist ... in general, people in Australia who are Christians, or of Christian background, live lives that are not solely shaped by their religious belief.

Lastly, why should "baddies" - if you want to describe Sheik Hilaly like that - be let off the hook? Your argument almost seems to be that the media shouldn't report any noxious acts or statements by people of Islamic faith because it only encourages xenophobes. Gee, that's great news for the women of Pakistan's Swat Valley, isn't it?

savage pencil, i don't believe there's an australian muslim community any more than there's an australian christian community. you quote saeed, but i'm pretty sure i could find similar quotes from christian "representatives".

leigh, i have no idea what you know or don't know. and i don't want to interfere in your fight with bushbred. but you may wish to avoid referencing stale republican swill, such as the obama-weathermen sleaze. it's gratuitous, and it just makes you look dumb.

Bushbasher - I quoted Abdullah Saeed, who is an academic and not a Muslim "representative". But it was this academic who spoke of a Muslim community and as he is the chair of Arab and Islamic Studies at Melbourne University and the author of the book "Islam in Australia", I think I might willingly concede that he has more authority in this matter than you. And reading back through the transcript of his interview with Geraldine Doogue, I think you will find that he mentions the word "commmunity" in regard to Muslims in Australia at least 10-12 times!!

savage garden, i stand semi-corrected on referring to saeed as a representative of muslims in australia. but you quote him:

"I think any religious leader who cannot bring together the entire Muslim community behind him on important issues of interest to the community can be quite problematic for the community".

he may not be playing the role of religious leader, but he seems to be taking on some role as cultural representative.

be that as it may, i still have absolutely no clue what saeed means by "muslim community", nor how he can possibly expect any religious leader to play the role he suggests is required.

i think also whether or not such a religious leader is possible is largely off the point. i think the much more important point is that, whatever "muslim community" means, nasty mysogynistic twits like hilaly do not automatically represent members of this community. (e.g. any more than rule-bound homophobic bigots like pell automatically represent a given christian, or even a given catholic).

whatever "muslim community" may mean, it is no excuse for the nasty, obtuse, insulting use of "they" by posters such as leigh. this group guilt stuff is silly and boring.