Fehmi Naji El-Imam AM (Arabic: فهمي ناجي الإمام) (1928 – 24 September 2016) was the Grand Mufti of Australia from June 2007 to September 2011. Born in Lebanon, he arrived in Australia in 1951. He was elected to succeed Taj El-Din Hilaly on 10 June 2007,[1][2] but by January 2011 Hilaly declared that Naji was no longer active, and that de facto he was functioning as mufti.[3] Naji was succeeded on 18 September 2011 by Ibrahim Abu Mohamed.[4][1]
Fehmi Naji El-Imam | |
|---|---|
Arabic: فهمي ناجي الإمام | |
| Title | Grand Mufti of Australia |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1928 |
| Died | 24 September 2016 (aged 87–88) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Institute | Preston Mosque |
| Muslim leader | |
| Period in office | 2007–2011 |
| Predecessor | Taj El-Din Hilaly |
| Successor | Ibrahim Abu Mohamed |
Naji questioned Osama bin Laden's responsibility for the September 11 attacks.[5] He was the Head Imam of Preston Mosque in Melbourne and secretary of the Victorian Board of Imams.[5]
He died of natural causes on 24 September 2016.[6]
Activities
editNaji served as a board member on the Muslim Community Reference Group, an advisory board established by the Howard government from 2005 to 2006.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Zwartz, Barney (11 June 2007). "Hilali out as Mufti, moderate in". The Age. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Fehmi Naji El-Imam named new Australian mufti International Islamic News Agency Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Maley, Paul (15 January 2011). "'I'm the mufti in all but name,' says Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali". The Australian.
- ^ Maley, Paul (20 September 2011). "Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed feels duty to 'cure' radicals". The Australian.
- ^ a b Dunn, Mark; Yamine, Evelyn (12 June 2007) Bin Laden backer blasted The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 29 January 2015
- ^ "Sheikh Fehmi Imam passed away aged 88". AMUST. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Building on social cohesion, harmony and security: An action plan by the Muslim Community Reference Group" Muslim Community Reference Group. (2006). Canberra. pdf
External links
edit- The Sheikh of Melbourne Transcript of ABC TV programme (2001)
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