Sydney Siege: Police say no to help from Muslim leaders during stand-off

Sydney’s Muslim leaders offered to help negotiate with terrorist Man Haron Monis in the early stages of his siege of Lindt Cafe, but were rebuffed by police.

Gathered at a Bankstown hotel to discuss recent terror raids with the Australian Federal Police on Monday as news broke of the siege, the leaders immediately volunteered their time at the scene.

Islamic Friendship Association of Australia spokesman Keysar Trad told The Sunday Telegraph he offered to speak to the gunman one-on-one — still unaware of his identity — to help placate him and bring an end to the stand-off.

The NSW Police made a decision to not involve any Muslim community leaders during negotiations with the hostage-taker.

“At the time I didn’t know it was him. I had met him before and if I had known earlier it was him I would’ve been happy to try and talk to him, I’m sure he wouldn’t have done anything to me at that stage,” Mr Trad said.

Mr Trad said when they saw a black Shahada flag in the café window, a younger Muslim community leader also offered to speak with the hostage taker.

Other organisations represented at the meeting were the Lebanese Muslim Association, United Muslim Women’s Association, Islamic Council of NSW and Muslim Village.

Mr Trad said the community leadership told police “all of our resources are on the table” in an attempt to identify Monis and end the siege.

“The police knew we were at their disposal and that was reiterated during the day.”

Community leaders were alerted to Monis’ identity later in the day but it is believed he did not want to talk to them.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Monis met with former Grand Mufti of Australia Sheikh Taj El Din Hilaly several times, and asked him to “pray for him”.

Sheikh Hilaly told The Sunday Telegraph from Egypt yesterday Monis was “very confused” when it came to his faith.

“He used to visit me a lot and help him with immigration matters and he would get me to be his go-between with the Iranian embassy to help with his family in Iran,” Sheikh Hilaly said.

“He had a lot of problems with Iran because he was linked with the Opposition party”.

Sheik Hilaly said Monis had even once asked him for permission to address the worshippers attending Friday prayers at Lakemba Mosque or to speak during the holy festival of Eid.

“I humoured him but said no to his request,” he said.

He described Monis as “stupid and naive” and said his actions at the Lindt cafe were deplorable.

“I wept over the deaths and woundings of the victims,” he said.

“If I had been asked to come to Sydney, I would have entered the cafe and taken him out while holding his ear”.

Monis has been described by community leaders as being on the fringes of both the Shia and Sunni communities, and had attended Sunni events.

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