Why Hilali must go, and go now

This catalogue of bigotry is not the issue here, at least not on this occasion. The National Imams Council’s sidestep reminds us that every defence of Hilali relies on equivocation: yes, he’s the mufti of Australia, but no one really has to do anything he says, despite his enormous following and his imprimatur as a religious leader. Sure, he speaks for some Muslims, but not the entire community, as though anyone speaks for all in even the most perfectly represented group. Okay, he’s misogynistic and labels Jews a global threat, but hey, so much is lost in the translation. But then even his own translator is caught fudging his responses to the ABC’s Monica Attard earlier this year.

And now the final insulting equivocation. Yes, agrees the Muslim leadership, he really should go, but just give us a few months to think it over. This is not decision-making: it’s pure diversionary tactics.

The problem with this latest equivocation is that it undermines us all, not just the leadership of the Muslim community. It invites the slander that so often shadows the debate about multiculturalism; that ethnic groups prefer to isolate themselves and will not willingly adopt the norms of their new home. Or worse, that they impose their values on the rest of us, protected behind a veil of multiculturalism.

The National Imams Council had an opportunity to take a stand against Hilali, not as a person, but as someone who does not represent their views. It had the opportunity, and muffed it. The message was heard clear enough in other parts of the world. Qatar’s largest selling English language newspaper, the Gulf Times, trumpeted the headline, “Australian Muslims endorse controversial cleric al-Hilali”. There’s real admiration there, and certainly a reasonable interpretation.

No one is suggesting that all Australian Muslims are anti-Semitic misogynists, but Hilali is precisely that. His own words tell us so. And the National Imams Council’s prevarication sends just as clear a message that leaders of their community can attack Australian values, not once but repeatedly, and the worst that can be expected is a lukewarm rebuke and a few months in the naughty corner. In truth the Gulf Times had it just about right.

Hilali should have been dismissed from his position a long time ago, but it wasn’t done. It should certainly have been done when the opportunity presented itself to the Imams Council. His bigoted tirades are not only insulting to members of other religious and ethnic groups directly affected by them and diminish cohesion in Australian society generally, but also taint his fellow Muslims.

A multicultural society can thrive only if all its members are prepared to take a strong stand against racism and bigotry. Hilali must go. Now.