B
BB-Leo
Guest
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/04/26/10456_gold-coast-news.html
April 26, 2008 06:31pm
Muslims call for details of deal
26Apr08
THE Islamic Council of Queensland is calling for Griffith University and the Saudi Arabian embassy to 'clear the air' about a funding deal at the centre of controversy.
Islamic council president Suliman Sabdia this week said transparency was needed on such arrangements between foreign governments and universities.
Griffith's Mt Gravatt Islamic Research Unit has been accused of acting as an agent for Saudi Arabia -- a claim the university has rejected.
Southport District Court judge Clive Wall has likened the Saudi-sponsored research unit to Pakistani madrasses that promote the extremist ideology embraced by Osama bin Laden.
Griffith vice-chancellor Ian O'Connor this week defended a $100,000 grant from the Saudi embassy, saying the Saudi Government placed no restrictions or demands on the funding's use.
Professor O'Connor rejected Judge Wall's accusations and said the unit promoted moderate Islam.
Mr Sabdia said details of the funding arrangement should be made clear because they were in the public's interest.
"I think it's very important for everyone's sake, first and foremost for the Muslim community and Muslim leaders who are kept in the dark about these things," he said. "I think it's important that (the grants) should be done in wider consultation with the Muslim community who have a stake in this country to make sure there's nothing that will cause any harm to the Muslim community and wider community."
Mr Sabdia said he did not know what the Islamic Research Unit's curriculum featured.
"For any foreign government to make grants to universities to push a particular religious ideology, I think in principle would be wrong," he said.
Griffith Islamic Research Unit director Mohamad Abdalla did not respond to inquiries this week but has previously rejected Judge Wall's accusations.
Professor O'Connor said standard practices were followed in sourcing and accepting the donation, which he claimed had been on the public record since the day the deal was made.
He said similar deals had been made between the Saudis and some of the world's top universities, including Harvard.
But this suggestion came under fire as The Australian newspaper claimed British and American authorities were examining the influence of Muslim benefactors on tertiary institutions.
Britain's M15 intelligence agency believed such funding had led to the spread of extremism, The Australian report said.
April 26, 2008 06:31pm
Muslims call for details of deal
26Apr08
THE Islamic Council of Queensland is calling for Griffith University and the Saudi Arabian embassy to 'clear the air' about a funding deal at the centre of controversy.
Islamic council president Suliman Sabdia this week said transparency was needed on such arrangements between foreign governments and universities.
Griffith's Mt Gravatt Islamic Research Unit has been accused of acting as an agent for Saudi Arabia -- a claim the university has rejected.
Southport District Court judge Clive Wall has likened the Saudi-sponsored research unit to Pakistani madrasses that promote the extremist ideology embraced by Osama bin Laden.
Griffith vice-chancellor Ian O'Connor this week defended a $100,000 grant from the Saudi embassy, saying the Saudi Government placed no restrictions or demands on the funding's use.
Professor O'Connor rejected Judge Wall's accusations and said the unit promoted moderate Islam.
Mr Sabdia said details of the funding arrangement should be made clear because they were in the public's interest.
"I think it's very important for everyone's sake, first and foremost for the Muslim community and Muslim leaders who are kept in the dark about these things," he said. "I think it's important that (the grants) should be done in wider consultation with the Muslim community who have a stake in this country to make sure there's nothing that will cause any harm to the Muslim community and wider community."
Mr Sabdia said he did not know what the Islamic Research Unit's curriculum featured.
"For any foreign government to make grants to universities to push a particular religious ideology, I think in principle would be wrong," he said.
Griffith Islamic Research Unit director Mohamad Abdalla did not respond to inquiries this week but has previously rejected Judge Wall's accusations.
Professor O'Connor said standard practices were followed in sourcing and accepting the donation, which he claimed had been on the public record since the day the deal was made.
He said similar deals had been made between the Saudis and some of the world's top universities, including Harvard.
But this suggestion came under fire as The Australian newspaper claimed British and American authorities were examining the influence of Muslim benefactors on tertiary institutions.
Britain's M15 intelligence agency believed such funding had led to the spread of extremism, The Australian report said.