ADC condemns Hilali and Patel’s remarks
The Bnai Brith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) condemns in the strongest terms the disgraceful statements by two of Australias most prominent Muslim leaders comparing Israels defensive campaign against Hamas in Gaza to the Nazi Holocaust of the Jewish People.
The comments by Sheikh Hilali that what we are seeing is another Holocaust and by Ikebal Patel, Chairman of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, that victims of the Holocaust (are) now perpetrating much worse atrocities against the Palestinians represent an attempt to completely distort both the facts of the Holocaust and the reality of the recent conflict in Gaza. The statements by these two leaders of the Australian Muslim community are entirely false and reflect an immoral willingness to engage in the sort of Holocaust denial that is so repugnant to all Australians.
ADC Vice-Chairman Alain Grossbard said that given the earnest attempts by Jewish community organisations to engage positively with the Muslim community in recent years, it is disturbing that Hilali and Patel continue to act in ways which endanger further attempts at fostering cooperation between the two communities.
The ADC is outraged by the false accusations leveled at the State of Israel and the denial of the murderous extent of the Holocaust by Sheikh Hilali and Ikebal Patel. It is also of great concern that Patel claims to have spoken to the state Islamic councils and many imams and that he is confident that his comments represent the mainstream Muslim view. If that is not the case, we expect the Muslim community to clearly enunciate their opposition to such abhorrent views, he said.
