Cleric urged jihad on Israel weeks before his Islamic council was awarded $27m Labor government grant
A quietly approved security grant to an Islamic council — coming only weeks after its top cleric was linked to a global “jihad” ruling — is raising serious questions.
The Albanese government has awarded almost $30 million to an Islamic organisation whose top cleric urged Muslims to wage jihad and fund fighters against Israel.
This masthead can reveal Home Affairs — Australia’s top national security department — gave the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) $27m under its “Security Uplifts for Muslim Communities in Australia Program”.
It was delivered without government announcement through a “closed non-competitive” process where no other group was allowed to apply.
Weeks earlier, Ibrahim Abu Mohamad — who is ANIC’s top cleric and chairman of its Australian Fatwa Council — joined in issuing an International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) ruling urging “jihad” against Israel.
“... It is obligatory for all Muslims and Muslim nations to engage in jihad against the Zionist entity … Military intervention, as well as supplying the mujahideen with weapons, expertise, and intelligence, is a binding duty — firstly upon the people of Palestine, then the neighbouring countries … followed by all Arab and Muslim nations.”, the IUMS ruling said.
“Jihad against the occupation is an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn) upon every capable Muslim.
“Financial jihad is an obligation upon every capable Muslim. Wealthy Muslims must spend from their own wealth — not just from zakat — to equip the mujahideen and support the oppressed,” the fatwa in which Dr Mohamad joined said.
The March 28 fatwa – a ruling on a point of Islamic law – is one of several in which IUMS lists him as a participating member.
IUMS is a Qatar-based organisation to whose board of trustees Dr Mohamed was appointed in 2019.
He is affiliated with its Committee for Ijtihad and Fatwa and has been appointed to chair its Committee for Muslim Minorities and Humanitarian Issues.
The $27m security grant began flowing from 12 weeks later, closely following another $1.1m Home Affairs grant delivered that same month to “support … communities affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict.”
It runs until 2028 to “enhance security resources for mosques, Islamic centres, Islamic schools and other community facilities utilised and attended by the Muslim community in Australia”.
In January 2024, Home Affairs awarded ANIC another $1.1m to “support Palestinian-Australian, Muslim and other communities affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict”.
This masthead does not suggest ANIC or its other leaders endorse Dr Mohamad’s positions.
The fatwa in which he statedly participated also called for Muslims to defy their own governments and to impose blockades against Israel.
“The Committee rules that a complete blockade—land, air, and sea—must be imposed on the occupying entity in support of Gaza.”, the fatwa said.
“Muslim populations must provide food, medicine, clothing, and fuel to Gaza by all means possible. If governments block this support, they must be defied, for ‘There is no obedience to any created being in disobedience to the Creator.’”
“Helping the oppressed is more obligatory than obedience to neglectful rulers.”
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke did not comment on the fatwa.
In a statement, Mr Burke said “Jewish and Muslim communities are at a heightened risk at the moment, and it’s important that everyone can be safe and feel safe.
“The government makes no apology for having specific programs for these communities,” he added.
“That Tony Burke, the Minister responsible for social cohesion, does not see any issues with plunging almost $30 million into an organisation that has engaged a cleric to urge global jihad defies belief”, Opposition spokesman for Home Affairs Jonno Duniam said.
“Anti-Semitism is rife across our country and the Government should be doing all it can to stamp it out. Instead, its funding grants appear to abet it.”
“Labor’s continued blind eye to the issue of anti-Semitism is harmful to our social fabric and especially our Jewish community who contribute enormously to our national story”, he said.
“The Government must finally recognise that rhetoric of this nature cannot continue, let alone be financially encouraged.”
ANIC and Dr Mohamed were repeatedly approached for comment.
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Originally published as Cleric urged jihad on Israel weeks before his Islamic council was awarded $27m Labor government grant
