Keysar Trad
Keysar Trad is a spokesperson for a section of the Australian Muslim community.
Background
Keysar Trad was born in Lebanon and came to Australia at the age of thirteen under the Australian government's family reunion program. He met and married his wife, Hanifeh, when he was in his early twenties. They live in south-west Sydney and have nine children. [1]
After a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1987, Trad decided to become a much more strict Muslim, rather than to follow the more liberal form of Islam that he observed around him in Lebanon and Australia. Trad began to take an active role at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney shortly thereafter.[1]
Career
Trad is well known for his former[2] role as an interpreter and spokesperson for Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly.
He is also an author, having released several books, including one in which he claimed that Australian police were rapists and that the government was providing drugs to Lebanese youth.
After leaving the Lebanese Muslim Association, Trad founded his own organisation, the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Inc (IFAA).
Controversy
Trad has become a highly controversial figure in Australia due to many of his activities, comments and views on matters relating to Islam:
- He once translated some articles for "Nidal ul Islam", the magazine of an Australian-based group called the 'Islamic Youth Movement', of which Bilal Khazal was once a member.[3] The group has since been investigated for alleged terrorism-related offences.
- In 2005 he said, "The criminal dregs of white society colonised this country and...the descendents of these criminal dregs tell us that they are better than us." [4]
- Despite publically stating that he rejects terrorism, Trad's refusal to criticise some terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah, has led to allegations that he is not sincere in encouraging Muslims to reject it. In addition, his frequent criticism of Israel has led to many accusations that he is anti-Semitic. Moreover, in August 2006, shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed to in order to end conflict, Trad and Hilaly wrote to the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, urging him to reject Australian peacekeepers. [5]
- He offended many moderate Muslims, as well as some Australians of Turkish background, when he alleged "Atatürk was in fact an opponent of the practice of Islam" [6] when responding to Australian Treasurer Peter Costello's speech [7] suggesting Modern Turkey as a model for Islamic countries.
- Throughout his years as Hilaly's spokesperson, Trad has been heavily criticised for continually defending Hilaly with his insistence that Hilaly has been taken out of context or misunderstood. For example, following the comments made by Hilaly in October 2006 which said that if a woman is raped it is usually her own fault, Trad said that Hilaly was talking about adultery, not rape. [1] Sydney Morning Herald Columnist Paul Sheehan (entertainment journalist) accused him of lying. [8]
- In response to comments made by Sheik Hilaly on Egyptian TV, Trad once again suggested he was being quoted out of context.
References
- ^ a b Islam's man of a million comments Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2002
- ^ "Mufti Mixes Motives" by Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun 11 May, 2005.
- ^ Khazal gave money to bomber suspect Sun Herald, November 9, 2003
- ^ It’s time to think Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun (copy on ICJS research web site), December 14, 2005
- ^ Lebanon asked to reject Australian troops Herald Sun, August 12, 2006
- ^ Costello a 'fool' over Turkey speech The Age, September 24, 2006
- ^ Turkey a Muslim model: Costello The Australian, September 23, 2006
- ^ Sheik tries to lie his way out of trouble by Paul Sheehan (entertainment journalist). Column in Sydney Morning Herald, October 30, 2006.
External links
- Islamic Friendship Association
- Trad on Gays and Lesbians
- Letters to Green Left Weekly Green Left Weekly, 11 December, 2002. Trad replying to allegations about comments relating to homosexuals.
- Keysar Trad on an alternative Australian Muslim leadership The Religion Report, Radio National, 20 October, 2004
- Hilaly has been misunderstood, says Trad