Controversial cleric in hospital 'beyond a day'

MELBOURNE - Embattled Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali has succumbed to a range of health woes, says close friend and spokesman Keysar Trad.

The mufti was admitted to hospital yesterday as media and political storm raged on over his comments on women and rape, and Mr Trad said "he may well be in there beyond a day".

"We're all hopeful and praying for him at the moment," Mr Trad told the Nine Network today. "Certainly his family is concerned about his health."

The sheik collapsed during an afternoon meeting with senior Muslim figures at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque which was to decide his future in the role.

Mr Trad said today the sheik "hasn't resigned yet and I certainly hope that he doesn't", but that he was on indefinite leave until his health improved.

"He has had bypass surgery, he's got blood pressure (problems) and asthma," he said of the sheik's long-term health problems.

"In the past few days, he has had to use his oxygen machine more than usual ... in addition to the pressure he has been under over the past week or so, it has compounded and affected his health."

Mr Trad was also asked to respond to a series of statements by key politicians and Muslim figures in the wake of the sheik's controversial sermon, in which he likened scantily-dressed women to "uncovered meat" who invited sexual attack.

On Federal Treasurer Peter Costello's claim that Australians had tolerated the sheik's "words of hate for a decade too long", Mr Trad said the same government had praised the sheik after he travelled to Iraq to help secure the release of Douglas Wood.

"It seems to me that politicians are tripping over themselves to find ways to criticise him," he said.

But Mr Trad also conceded that Australia's senior Muslim figures needed to "start reviewing their words and they way they think on this issue" in terms of women's dress.

Multi-lingual clerics also needed a "broader vocabulary in the English language [to] make sure that they chose their words correctly," he said.

This followed a statement from a WA-based cleric who said women that expose themselves will attract evil men, and Melbourne's Sheik Mohammed Omran who suggested Muslims attract harsher jail terms for rape.

Mr Trad also said the Koran was clear on the issue.

"The mufti has made it very clear last Friday where he said women can dress in any way they choose, this does not give anybody the right to prey upon on them," he said.

"The Koran is very clear on this issue. It says to the believers, to the Muslims, to me, to people like me, to avert your glance.

"If you can't look, then you certainly can't harass."

- AAP