Mohammed Omran
Mohammed Omran | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jordan |
| Other names | Abu Ayman |
| Alma mater | Islamic University of Medina (Saudi Arabia) |
| Organization | Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association (Australia) - ASWJA logo[1] |
| Title | Sheikh |
| Website | www.aswj.com.au/contact.do |
Mohammed Omran, also known as Sheikh Abu Ayman, established the Australian branch of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association, with one report saying Omran is Australia’s most senior Salafist cleric.[2]
Contents
1 Early life
2 Radicalism
3 See also
4 References
Early life
Omran was born in Jordan, studied in Saudi Arabia and was sponsored to Australia by the Medina University. He is aligned with the Salafi sect,[3]
Radicalism
Omran is said to be the grandfather of Islamic fundamentalism in Melbourne, however, he claims he is against terrorism[4]
In 1985 Omran established the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association of Australia (ASWJA).[3]
In 2005, when speaking about Osama bin Laden he said, "When you look at the man from some part of his life, yes he is a great man"[5] and that bin Laden is, "a good man in some ways, and not in other ways".[6] A member of the advisory committee for ASWJA said Omran's words were taken out of context.[7]
In 2007, Omran was said to be the spiritual leader of the Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia.[8]
He established prayer-halls in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. At his centre in Brunswick, Victoria, the convicted-terrorist, Abdul Nacer Benbrika was said to have been a teacher[9] and a deputy-leader.[10] Omran has denied that he had close ties with Benbrika.[10]
Omran was said to be the spiritual leader of Australian extremists. A claim Omran denies.[6][11]
With Omran said to have, "the respect of many of those at-risk of being recruited to terrorism", the Australian government has said that it is critical for Islamic leaders, including Omran, to use their influence to stem terrorism.[6]
Harun Mehicevic the leader of Melbourne's Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre was a student of Sheik Abu Ayman. ASWJ installed Mehicevic as the leader and provided the funds to set up the centre. There has been a subsequent falling-out between the groups.[12]
In March 2016 it was reported that Omran's son Ayman Omran had been killed in Syria while allegedly performing "humanitarian aid".[13][14]
See also
- Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association (Australia)
- Islam in Australia
- Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia
- Islamic organisations in Australia
- Islamic schools and branches
References
^ "ASWJA logo". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Le Grand, Chip (23 May 2015). "Australia an estranged country to many Muslims including Sheik Omran". The Australian. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
^ ab Rubin, B.M. (2010). Guide to Islamist Movements. 2. Sharpe. p. 119. ISBN 9780765641380. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ Bachelard, Michael; Bucci, Nino (26 April 2015). "How do you solve a problem like radical Islam?". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
^ "Melbourne cleric stands up for bin Laden". The Age. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
^ abc "Government failure to turn teenagers from terror". The Australian. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ Muhammad, Amjid (8 November 2005). "The price of playing with fear". The Age. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ Stanley, Trevor (7 October 2005). "Al-Qaeda in Australia: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 3 Issue: 19". The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ Munro, Ian; Zwartz, Barney (9 November 2005). "Arrested: a man apart who fought to stay in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ ab McKenzie, Nick (11 November 2005). "Terrorism accused not my students: Sheikh". ABC News. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ "Omran 'at centre of terror web'". News Ltd. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ Dowling, James (16 May 2015). "Revealed: The split that created Al-Furqan". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
^ Dowling, James (9 March 2016). "Son of senior Australian Muslim cleric believed killed in Syria". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
^ Oakes, Dan (9 March 2016). "Son of prominent Australian Islamic leader Sheikh Mohammed Omran dies in Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
