Keysar Trad is a Sydney Islamic community figure, founder and president of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, and a long-time media spokesman. In 2004 he spoke for Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly during the controversy over Hilaly's "September 11 is God's work" sermon, saying the Mufti had taken bits from poems and "has always condemned and continues to condemn any attacks against civilians" (ABC). In December 2012 he was a member of the Australian delegation of imams and community leaders that travelled to Gaza and met Hamas leadership, according to the delegate roster in Islamic Relief Australia's documentary Australians for Syria and Gaza (2013).
At a "peace rally" in Hyde Park on 18 December 2005, a week after the Cronulla riots, Trad told about 5,000 people that Muslims were "suffering as a result of the racist actions of predominantly one radio station", and the crowd called out "2GB". The next morning 2GB host Jason Morrison said on air: "Keysar Trad, you are a disgraceful individual... you are a dangerous individual... he is widely perceived as a pest... he is not a peacemaker" (as set out in the High Court judgment). Trad sued 2GB for defamation over the broadcast. Dismissing the case, NSW Supreme Court Justice Peter McClellan said: "Some of his views and the manner in which they are expressed are entirely repugnant to accepted values within the Australian community." The case went to the High Court (Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Trad [2012] HCA 44), and Trad was ultimately ordered to pay 2GB's costs (RadioInfo).
He was installed as president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) in late 2016. In February 2017 he told Andrew Bolt on Sky News that hitting a wife was "step three" in a Quranic process, describing the verse as "playing on the psychology of the man saying violence is a last resort". After widespread condemnation he apologised for the "clumsy" comments and said: "I condemn violence against women – it is never ok to hit a woman" (SBS). In May 2017 AFIC replaced him as president at an emergency meeting (ABC).
Affiliations
Islamic Friendship Association of Australia - founder and president
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils - president (late 2016 to May 2017)
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