A controversial Muslim cleric who made infamous remarks comparing women with pieces of meat has died age 82.
Sheik Taj El-Din Hilali died in Egypt on Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Lebanese Muslim Association.
Hilali was once Australia’s most high-profile Islamic cleric as Mufti of Australia and at times one of the country’s most notorious figures.
He sparked outrage when he compared women who dressed “immodestly” with “uncovered meat” left to be eaten by cats during a Ramadan sermon he gave in 2006.
“If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it … whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?” Hilali said.
“The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred.”
He apologised amid a fierce backlash, claiming he had only intended to “protect women’s honour” and saying men were responsible for their crimes.
Hilali served as the Imam of Lakemba Mosque in Sydney’s Western suburbs for 31 years from 1982 to 2013.
He was named Muslim Man of the Year at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards in 2005.
Earlier that year, he travelled to Iraq in an attempt to negotiate the release of abducted Australian contractor Douglas Wood.
“It is with grieving hearts and broken spirits that the Lebanese Muslim Association announces the passing of our beloved Sheik Taj El-Din Hilali in Egypt earlier today,” a LMA statement read.
“Although residing in Egypt at the time of his passing, Sheikh Taj maintained close links with the Muslim community in Australia who loved and admired him so much and he remained a frequent and welcome visitor to Sydney.”
The late religious leader had earlier courted controversy when he appeared to support the World Trade Centre attacks during a 2004 sermon in Lebanon.
“September 11 is God’s work against oppressors,” he said, although he later condemned radical Islamic leaders in Australia and said he rejected ideology or actions which would harm the country.
Hilali was also jailed in Egypt in 1999 on disputed charges of smuggling ancient artefacts to Australia, according to SBS.
A favourite opponent of Hilali’s was former Prime Minister John Howard, with the two men regularly clashing in public over Australia’s participation in the Iraq war.
“I’m not the least bit surprised that Sheikh Hilali should be a critic of mine, I’m quite a critic of his when it comes to his leadership of the Muslim community,” Howard said in 2007.
Hilali’s daughter Asma paid tribute to her father in a statement.
“He worked tirelessly, even in the face of concerted campaigns in the public sphere, he remained steadfast and a model of humility and hard work for the community,” she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.
“He was an Australian icon who will leave a huge void.”