Sheikh Haron
Encyclopedia
Sheikh
Haron is an Australian Muslim cleric originally from Iran
. Ayatollah
Manteghi Boroujerdi was an Iranian cleric espousing a liberal brand of Islam
- dangerousely liberal, as his views have led to his wife and two daughters being held hostage
in Iran. Later he changed his name to Man Haron Monis. He is known as Sheikh Haron and he had a website (sheikhharon.com) which was suspended after he was arrested by the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) on 20 October 2009. Sheikh Haron is accused of sending offensive letters to the families of the Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
and his case is currently dealt with the Downing Centre, Sydney
local court. The media release of the Australian Federal Police states that on 20 October 2009 search warrants were executed in three suburbs by Sydney
Joint Counter Terrorism Team. He was interviewed and charged with seven counts of using a postal or similar service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 471.12 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
After Sheikh Haron's Website was suspended, Sheikh Haron's New Website was established, the website which emphasises that "Islam is the religion
of peace
so a Muslim
should be a peace activist
".
On 10 November 2009 Man Monis faced court represented by his lawyers Chris Murphy and Adam Houda. Chris Murphy told court that Sheikh Haron was a peace activist. Outside court the Sheikh chained himseld to court in a protest for peace. The media in Australia and overseas reported that Sheikh Haron addressed journalists in Arabic for some minutes before switching to English, then strongly criticised Australia's military presence in Afghanistan. He referred to a comment reportedly made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
that he could not "stomach" the allegations against him. "I ask Mr Kevin Rudd, did your stomach turn when you read the news about killing innocent Afghanistani civilians?" he said. Sheik Haron said he had sent the letters to the families offering his condolences
, offering his help if they needed it, and asking them to tell the government to stop killing innocent civilians.
On 2 February 2010 the Australian Associated Press
(AAP) reported that the Sheik wanted to send more letters to the families of the British soldiers killed in Afghanistan. AAP also on 9 February 2010 reported that Sheik Haron was banned by court to send letters to UK families.
Official sites
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Haron is an Australian Muslim cleric originally from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Manteghi Boroujerdi was an Iranian cleric espousing a liberal brand of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
- dangerousely liberal, as his views have led to his wife and two daughters being held hostage
Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
in Iran. Later he changed his name to Man Haron Monis. He is known as Sheikh Haron and he had a website (sheikhharon.com) which was suspended after he was arrested by the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP) on 20 October 2009. Sheikh Haron is accused of sending offensive letters to the families of the Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and his case is currently dealt with the Downing Centre, Sydney
Downing Centre, Sydney
The Downing Centre is a major courthouse complex in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It features Local Courts, the District Court of New South Wales and a law library known as the Downing Centre Library....
local court. The media release of the Australian Federal Police states that on 20 October 2009 search warrants were executed in three suburbs by Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Joint Counter Terrorism Team. He was interviewed and charged with seven counts of using a postal or similar service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 471.12 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
After Sheikh Haron's Website was suspended, Sheikh Haron's New Website was established, the website which emphasises that "Islam is the religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
of peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
so a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
should be a peace activist
Peace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
".
On 10 November 2009 Man Monis faced court represented by his lawyers Chris Murphy and Adam Houda. Chris Murphy told court that Sheikh Haron was a peace activist. Outside court the Sheikh chained himseld to court in a protest for peace. The media in Australia and overseas reported that Sheikh Haron addressed journalists in Arabic for some minutes before switching to English, then strongly criticised Australia's military presence in Afghanistan. He referred to a comment reportedly made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
that he could not "stomach" the allegations against him. "I ask Mr Kevin Rudd, did your stomach turn when you read the news about killing innocent Afghanistani civilians?" he said. Sheik Haron said he had sent the letters to the families offering his condolences
Condolences
Condolences are an expression of sympathy to someone who has experienced grief arising from death, deep mental anguish, or misfortune.When individuals condole, or offer their condolences to a particular situation or person, they are offering active, conscious support of that person or activity...
, offering his help if they needed it, and asking them to tell the government to stop killing innocent civilians.
On 2 February 2010 the Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
(AAP) reported that the Sheik wanted to send more letters to the families of the British soldiers killed in Afghanistan. AAP also on 9 February 2010 reported that Sheik Haron was banned by court to send letters to UK families.
External links
News media- http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2001/240626.htm
- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/kevin-rudd-outraged-at-sheiks-letters/story-e6freuy9-1225790202274
- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/man-monis-also-known-as-sheik-haron-faces-court-after-being-accused-of-sending-offensive-letters-to-diggers-families/story-e6frf7jo-1225796099914
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/09/2814524.htm
- http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/sheik-banned-from-writing-to-uk-families-20100209-np2v.html
- http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/sheik-wants-to-write-to-british-families-20100128-n1j0.html
- http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1010168
- http://www.aapimage.com.au/Search.aspx?search=SOLDIER+FAMILY+HARASSMENT+COURT%26(IMPORTDATE%3E20091109)
Official sites
- http://hosting.pcfocus.com.au/suspended.page/
- http://sheikhharon.net/
- http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/national/2009/man_charged_for_sending_offensive_letters_to_family_members_of_soldiers.html