Clerics, including prominent Sydney imam Khalil Shami, joined other Muslim leaders yesterday in backing the federal Government’s plans to recast the overly religious image of Islam by promoting secular and moderate voices. Sheik Shami urged the Government to include clerics when it picks Muslims to give advice about the community. Imams should be consulted, if only to offer the correct religious perspective on issues, he said. “You cannot exclude imams and expect all Muslim voices to be represented on an advisory body.” The Howard government Muslim advisory board chairman Ameer Ali welcomed the Rudd Government’s vision, revealed in The Australian yesterday, of a broader representation among the Muslim community. A new reference group could potentially go a long way in “demolishing Islamic stereotypes”, he said. “There are successful stories in the Muslim community that have not been properly advertised,” Dr Ali said, citing National Australia Bank chief executive Ahmed Fahour and the late founder of Crazy John’s, John Ilhan. “Right now, the moment you say Muslims, people tend to think these guys are fanatics who are always praying and have beards. That’s wrong because the majority of Muslims are not like that. We have to demolish this image - the stereotyping of the Muslims who are currently all seen as religious people.” Another former Muslim Community Reference Group member, Aziza Abdel-Halim, said it was imperative for the old guard to make way for “new blood”. “What should be said to them is, ‘You’ve done your bit, you have contributed, now it’s time to give other people a chance’,” she said. “We need new blood; people who grew up in Australia and understand both cultures ... people who have a foot in each culture and can understand and represent each culture and see the similarities and the possible fusion between the two.” The Rudd Government is hoping to use sporting figures, academics and other professionals from the Muslim community to help tackle the myths surrounding Islam and celebrate the community’s success. Parliamentary Secretary to Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson is considering remodelling the Muslim advisory board set up under the previous government by placing less focus on spiritual leaders. Dr Ali said it was important not to completely sideline spiritual leaders and the old guard because while the “young have the vision and the energy, the old guard has the experience”.
