Islamic Council to elect leader over weekend, as current chief vows to avoid ‘controversy’

The future of controversial Muslim leader Keysar Trad will be decided this weekend at elections of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC).

The New South Wales Supreme Court has ordered the organisation to hold a fresh vote after a messy internal dispute ended up in the courts.

The organisation has been in crisis since allegations surfaced at its six schools around the country in 2015 that at least some schools were operating for profit and sending money back to its parent organisation.

That ultimately led to Mr Trad being installed as the president in late 2016.

The organisation was also forced to sever ties with the schools, remaining only as landlord.

In February, ousted leaders seized the headquarters and bank accounts in a dramatic coup and the matter ended up in court.

Mr Trad also made headlines in February when he claimed in an interview on Sky News the Koran states it was okay for a husband to beat his wife, but only as a last resort.

He later apologised for what he said were clumsy statements and said he did not condone violence against women.

Mr Trad said he has learned his lesson and is seeking to be re-elected as the organisation’s spokesman.

“Of course we all learn from our mistakes and I’ve learned from my clumsiness,” he said.

“I’ll be presenting to the members that there will be a media committee.

“We will work very hard to focus on the positive and keep away from controversial territory.”

The elections come as the organisation’s schools continue to struggle to keep federal funding.

Its Sydney school Malek Fahd lost $19 million in federal funding and its Canberra school has also lost funds.

Mr Trad said they were still working through some of the issues that were raised by the changes.

“In March last year, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils voted to relinquish control of the schools to independent boards and has only acted as landlord in that period,” he said.

“There has been some turbulence, some of the old guard have refused to let go.”

Opponent weathers own share of storms

Mr Trad’s opponent in the elections is Professor Shahjahan Khan — a respected statistics academic from Toowoomba.

He said the recent turmoil was not representative of AFIC or the Islamic Community.

Professor Khan has had to weather his own share of storms in the region.

“It took 125 years to get the first mosque in Toowoomba in 2014,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there were two fire attacks in the following year [in] 2015 and the mosque has been seriously damaged and yet to be repaired.

“I’m very happy to say Toowoomba is a very diverse community. I feel very proud of the city I live in.”

Promoting Australia as ‘the land of the fair go’

Also on the ticket is Rateb Jneid from the Islamic Council of Western Australia.

He received a $300 fine in 2014 and had a conviction spent after being charged with not securing a gun cabinet properly.

It followed a raid on a family home where his brothers Rabih and Ziad were charged with intent to supply methamphetamine.

He was unavailable for comment.

Regardless of who wins the elections, Keyser Trad said they will need to be a voice for Muslims in Australia.

“We are in a way Australia’s Muslim ambassadors to the rest of the world,” he said.

“We are promoting Australia as a great model of multi-culturalism, inter-faith diversity and the land of the fair go.”

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