Taj Aldin al-Hilali attracted controversy instead of friends, said senior Muslim leader Rehin Ghauri.

Australia’s top Islamic cleric, who triggered a furore last year when he referred to women without head scarves as “uncovered meat,” stepped down today, prompting Muslim leaders to appoint a new mufti.

AUSTRALIA’S most prominent Islamic cleric, widely condemned for suggesting that women who don’t wear head scarves invite rape, yesterday implied he would not resign as long as the White House continues to influence the world.

Australia’s most prominent Islamic cleric, widely condemned for suggesting that women who don’t wear head scarves invite rape, implied today he would not resign as long as the White House continues to influence the world.