Plea from a brother in prayer, The Australian, 9 May, 2005
Plea from a brother in prayer: [1 All-round Country Edition]
John Stapleton, John Kerin. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 May 2005: 4.
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Sheik Hilali made his video after meeting Mr Wood's brothers Malcolm and Vernon, who travelled to Sydney's Lakemba Mosque on Saturday. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils had suggested such a meeting to Mr Wood's brothers on Friday.
Sheik Hilali told The Australian yesterday he had explained to the kidnappers that local Muslims understood their desire to liberate their country and make it independent. But such kidnappings reflected badly on the Islamic community that was part of theAustralian community "and we should not bear the burden of political mistakes".
Sheik Hilali attacked the Australian Government for its lack of diplomacy, and said direct negotiations between the Australian and Iraqi people would be far more successful than attempts through official channels.
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THE spiritual leader of Australia's Muslims has appealed for the release of Douglas Wood, saying the community values the jihadi struggle in Iraq but not the kidnap of innocent civilians.
The Mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, appealed directly to the kidnappers of the Australian engineer in a video broadcast on Saturday night on Arabic television station Al- Jazeera.
Sheik Hilali said he would lead a delegation of senior Muslims to Iraq in an attempt to negotiate Mr Wood's release if the kidnappers extended the deadline on their ultimatum of 5am Tuesday.
Mr Wood's captors said they would execute him if Australian troops did not withdraw from Iraq.
The deadline coincided with a second video showing a badly beaten Mr Wood with his head shaved, a black eye and guns pointed at his head. He says in a soft voice that he does not want to die.
Sheik Hilali made his video after meeting Mr Wood's brothers Malcolm and Vernon, who travelled to Sydney's Lakemba Mosque on Saturday. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils had suggested such a meeting to Mr Wood's brothers on Friday.
A Sunni Muslim, like the suspected kidnappers, Sheik Hilali has been in contact with Sunni scholars in Iraq.
"We value your jihad and your efforts and we call upon you to do something for the sake of our community and all Australian society, which does not support (Prime Minister John) Howard's pro-American policies," Sheik Hilali says in the video.
"You know the Australian forces in Iraq are protected by American forces and don't do anything -- it's all politics. We implore you to release him in the name of God, for the sake of the Islamic community in Australia ... and for the sake of the family of Douglas Wood."
Sheik Hilali told The Australian yesterday he had explained to the kidnappers that local Muslims understood their desire to liberate their country and make it independent. But such kidnappings reflected badly on the Islamic community that was part of theAustralian community "and we should not bear the burden of political mistakes".
Sheik Hilali attacked the Australian Government for its lack of diplomacy, and said direct negotiations between the Australian and Iraqi people would be far more successful than attempts through official channels.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's comments that the Government would not negotiate with terrorists and refused to withdraw from Iraq were poorly timed and unhelpful, he said.
"These are not the right statements at this present time ... and should not be repeated time and again," Sheik Hilali said.
"Such things don't serve our mission. What is the wisdom, the logic and diplomacy in this?"
The mufti told The Australian he was waiting on a statement from Mr Wood's kidnappers that they would extend their 72-hour deadline.
He was also hoping for a statement from the Australian Government supporting his efforts to secure Mr Wood's release.
"We need a reasonable statement, not an aggressive statement -- a nice, soft, good approach to make our mission easier," he said.
"All religious, political and tribal leaders, who our team believe can help are being asked to help, but it's a big step from that to a satisfactory outcome."