Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

News Brief

Advertisement

A senior Australian Muslim cleric said he supports Hezbollah.

Kamal Mousselmani, head of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council of Australia, told the Weekend Australian newspaper that his community supports the Lebanese militia group and opposes Israel.

“If Australia supports Israel, they are defending terrorism because we believe terrorists come from Israel not from our people. I support Hezbollah,” he said in the interview. “Our opinion is that Hezbollah is not a terrorist group.”

According to Mousselmani, Australia’s Shi’ite Muslims sent money to Lebanese “victims” of last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, but none of the money went to combatants.

Australian authorities have been looking into allegations that some of the country’s 280,000 Muslims are funding radical Muslims overseas.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement