Fehmi Naji El-Imam AM (Arabic: فهمي ناجي الإمام) (1928 – 24 September 2016) was the Grand Mufti of Australia from June 2007 to September 2011. Born in Lebanon, he arrived in Australia in 1951. He was elected to succeed Taj El-Din Hilaly on 10 June 2007,[1][2] but by January 2011 Hilaly declared that Naji was no longer active, and that de facto he was functioning as mufti.[3] Naji was succeeded on 18 September 2011 by Ibrahim Abu Mohamed.[4][1]

Fehmi Naji El-Imam
Arabic: فهمي ناجي الإمام
TitleGrand Mufti of Australia
Personal
Born1928
Died24 September 2016(2016-09-24) (aged 87–88)
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
Organization
InstitutePreston Mosque
Muslim leader
Period in office2007–2011
PredecessorTaj El-Din Hilaly
SuccessorIbrahim Abu Mohamed

Naji questioned Osama bin Laden's responsibility for the September 11 attacks.[5] He was the Head Imam of Preston Mosque in Melbourne and secretary of the Victorian Board of Imams.[5]

He died of natural causes on 24 September 2016.[6]

Activities

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Naji served as a board member on the Muslim Community Reference Group, an advisory board established by the Howard government from 2005 to 2006.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Zwartz, Barney (11 June 2007). "Hilali out as Mufti, moderate in". The Age. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. ^ Fehmi Naji El-Imam named new Australian mufti International Islamic News Agency Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Maley, Paul (15 January 2011). "'I'm the mufti in all but name,' says Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali". The Australian.
  4. ^ Maley, Paul (20 September 2011). "Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed feels duty to 'cure' radicals". The Australian.
  5. ^ a b Dunn, Mark; Yamine, Evelyn (12 June 2007) Bin Laden backer blasted The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 29 January 2015
  6. ^ "Sheikh Fehmi Imam passed away aged 88". AMUST. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Building on social cohesion, harmony and security: An action plan by the Muslim Community Reference Group" Muslim Community Reference Group. (2006). Canberra. pdf
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Titles in Islam
Preceded by Grand Mufti of Australia
2007 to 2011
Succeeded by