# Keysar Trad > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Keysar_Trad > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Keysar_Trad.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keysar_Trad > Source revision: 1333419921 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian Muslim spokesman}} {{lead too short|date=January 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}} {{Infobox person | name = Keysar Trad | image = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Lebanon | nationality = | occupation = Founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, Former president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Author | spouse = Hanifeh | children = 9 }} '''Keysar Trad''' is the founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia and is the former president of the [Australian Federation of Islamic Councils](/source/Australian_Federation_of_Islamic_Councils). == Background == Trad was born in [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon) and came to Australia at the age of thirteen under the Australian government's family reunion program. He met and married his wife, Hanifeh, when he was in his early twenties. They live in south-west [Sydney](/source/Sydney) and have nine children.{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/01/1033283486605.html | title=Islam's man of a million comments | work=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) | date=2 October 2002 | first=Deborah | last=Cameron | accessdate=2007-12-05}} After a pilgrimage to [Mecca](/source/Mecca) in 1987, Trad decided to become a much stricter Muslim, rather than to follow the more liberal form of Islam that he observed around him in Lebanon and Australia. Trad began to take an active role at the [Lakemba Mosque](/source/Lakemba_Mosque) in [Sydney](/source/Sydney) shortly thereafter. == Career == Trad is well known for his former role as an interpreter and spokesperson for [Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly](/source/Sheik_Taj_El-Din_Hilaly)."Mufti Mixes Motives" by [Andrew Bolt](/source/Andrew_Bolt) in the [Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun) 11 May 2005. He is also an author, having released several books. After leaving the [Lebanese Muslim Association](/source/Lebanese_Muslim_Association), Trad founded his own organisation, the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Inc (IFAA). Following the actions of an Australian suicide bomber, who had killed at least five people and injured up to 90, Trad said, "I have always been opposed to suicide bombing. I'm opposed to any form of senseless taking of human life".{{cite news|url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-teen-kills-five-in-suicide-bombing-on-crowded-iraqi-market/story-fni0cx12-1226994186108 |title=Sydney teen kills five in suicide bombing on crowded Iraqi market|last1=Benson |first1=Simon| last2=Mullany| first2=Ashley|date=19 July 2014|work=[Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph_(Sydney))|accessdate=27 July 2014}} Trad has entertained the possibility of becoming a candidate for both the Labor Party and for the Liberal Party. Because of his background [Senator Bernardi](/source/Cory_Bernardi) has raised concerns saying, "Mr Keysar Trad is wholly unsuitable to be a member of parliament".{{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2Ff4dd5936-2ce6-4435-b150-bc9e6f0a03b4%2F0194;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2Ff4dd5936-2ce6-4435-b150-bc9e6f0a03b4%2F0132%22|title=Hansard - Trad, Mr Keysar|year=2014|publisher=APH}} In July 2016 Trad was elected President of the [Australian Federation of Islamic Councils](/source/Australian_Federation_of_Islamic_Councils) following the standing down of the previous President.{{cite news|url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/muslim-leader-stand-down-amid-school-brawl/news-story/de968ab280e2a10ba9828eb1da16ccc6|title=Muslim leader stands down amid school brawl }} ==Defamation case== Around the time of the [2005 Cronulla riots](/source/2005_Cronulla_riots), Sydney commercial radio station [2GB](/source/2GB) broadcast comments by Alan Jones and Jason Morrison on Lebanese Muslims in Sydney. In the aftermath of the Cronulla riots, a rally was held in Hyde Park on 18 December 2005 in the centre of Sydney, attended by some 5,000 people.{{cite AustLII|NSWCA|477|2013|litigants=Trad v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd (No 2) |date=23 December 2013 |courtname=auto}}. Keysar Trad attended the rally and spoke about "the suffering of Muslims in Australia" as a result of "predominantly one radio station" which the crowd identified as 2GB. The next day, 2GB ran an 11-minute broadcast with [Jason Morrison](/source/Jason_Morrison_(radio_broadcaster)) that included a recording of the rally, as well as a talk back section. Keysar Trad commenced legal proceedings against Harbour Radio, the operator of 2GB, for alleged defamation during the 11-minute broadcast on 19 December 2005.{{cite AustLII|NSWSC|750|2009|litigants=Trad v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd |date=31 July 2009 |courtname=auto}}. The plaintiff alleged eight defamatory imputations of comments made in the broadcast under the Defamation Act 1974, and Harbour Radio defended the comments under Sections 15 and 16 of the act which provide a legal defense if "imputation is a matter of substantial truth" and "either relates to a matter of public interest or is published under qualified privilege." Supreme Court justice [Peter McClellan](/source/Peter_McClellan) ruled against the plaintiff. The claim has gone to the High Court of Australia,{{cite AustLII|HCA|44|2012|litigants=Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Trad |date=5 October 2012 |courtname=auto}}. and the [New South Wales Court of Appeal](/source/New_South_Wales_Court_of_Appeal). The case against Jason Morrison is one of the longest running cases in recent Australian history, and is believed to have incurred $4 million in legal fees for Harbour Radio, who continued to defend Morrison after he left for a rival station.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/gb-court-costs-to-leave-keysar-trad-with-no-home/story-fna045gd-1227370449096|title=2GB court costs to leave Keysar Trad with no home|date=27 May 2015|work=The Australian|author=Sharri Markson|author-link=Sharri Markson}} In 2015 the matter was resolved by the [High Court of Australia](/source/High_Court_of_Australia) and he was forced to pay $290,000 in damages. In a separate case, Trad won a defamation action against the same radio station and was awarded $10,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/muslim-leader-loses-290k-in-radio-battle/story-e6frg6nf-1227201482070 |title=Muslim leader loses $290k in radio battle |author=Klan, Anthony|date=30 January 2015|work=[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)|accessdate=19 February 2015}} == Controversy == Trad is a controversial figure in Australia due to many of his activities, comments and views on matters relating to Islam:{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} * He once translated some articles for "Nidal ul Islam", the magazine of an Australian-based group called the '[Islamic Youth Movement](/source/Islamic_organisations_in_Australia)', of which [Bilal Khazal](/source/Bilal_Khazal) was once a member.{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/08/1068243303361.html | title=Khazal gave money to bomber suspect | work=[Sun Herald](/source/Sun_Herald) | date=9 November 2003 | first=Sarah | last=Smiles | accessdate=2007-12-05}} The group has since been investigated for alleged [terrorism](/source/terrorism)-related offences. * In 1995 he said, "The criminal dregs of white society colonised this country and...the descendants of these criminal dregs tell us that they are better than us."{{cite web | url=http://www.icjs-online.org/index.php?eid=916&ICJS=2394&article=689 | title=It's time to think | first=Andrew | last=Bolt | author-link=Andrew Bolt | publisher=[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun) (copy on ICJS research web site) | date=14 December 2005 | accessdate=2007-12-05 | archive-date=28 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928225837/http://www.icjs-online.org/index.php?eid=916&ICJS=2394&article=689 | url-status=dead }} * Trad was accused by the mainstream media of supporting "terrorism". They used his refusal to condemn organisations such as [Hezbollah](/source/Hezbollah) as an example, when in fact the only part of Hizbollah banned in Australia is the "Hezbollah External Security Organization". In addition, his frequent criticism of [Israel](/source/Israel) has been used by the media to portray him as [anti-Semitic](/source/anti-Semitic). Moreover, in August 2006, shortly after a [ceasefire](/source/ceasefire) between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed to in order to end [conflict](/source/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict), Trad and Hilaly wrote to the Lebanese Prime Minister, [Fouad Siniora](/source/Fouad_Siniora), urging him to reject Australian peacekeepers.{{ cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,20109896-5005961,00.html | title=Lebanon asked to reject Australian troops | publisher=[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun) | date=12 August 2006 | accessdate=2007-12-05}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} * He offended many moderate Muslims, as well as some Australians of Turkish background, when he alleged "[Atatürk](/source/Atat%C3%BCrk) was in fact an opponent of the practice of Islam"{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/costello-a-fool-over-turkey-speech/2006/09/23/1158431949658.html | title=Costello a 'fool' over Turkey speech | publisher=[The Age](/source/The_Age) | date=24 September 2006 | first=Jason | last=Koutsoukis | accessdate=2007-12-05 | location=Melbourne}} when responding to Australian Treasurer [Peter Costello](/source/Peter_Costello)'s speech{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20461883-601,00.html | title=Turkey a Muslim model: Costello | publisher=[The Australian](/source/The_Australian) | date=23 September 2006 | first=Samantha | last=Maiden | accessdate=2007-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110234730/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20461883-601,00.html | archive-date=10 November 2006 | url-status=dead }} suggesting Atatürk as a model for Muslims. * Throughout his years as Hilaly's spokesperson, Trad has been heavily criticised - and satirised - for continually defending Hilaly with his insistence that Hilaly has been taken out of context or misunderstood. For example, following the comments made by Hilaly in October 2006 which said that if a woman is raped it is usually her own fault, Trad said that Hilaly was talking about adultery, not rape.{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1774182.htm | title=Community leaders condemn Al Hilaly's comments | date=26 October 2006 | publisher=[ABC](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) | accessdate=2007-12-04}} ''[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)'' columnist [Paul Sheehan](/source/Paul_Sheehan_(journalist)) accused him of lying.{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/sheik-tries-to-lie-his-way-out-of-trouble/2006/10/29/1162056864793.html | title=Sheik tries to lie his way out of trouble | first=Paul | last=Sheehan | author-link=Paul Sheehan (journalist) | work=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) | date=30 October 2006 | accessdate=2007-12-05}} * In response to comments made about Australians by Sheik Hilaly on Egyptian TV, Trad said some of his comments were "ill advised".{{cite news|url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6255287.stm |title=Australia cleric in convicts jibe |date=12 January 2007|publisher=[BBC](/source/BBC)|access-date=14 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mufti-told-dont-bother-coming-back/2007/01/12/1168105153098.html |title=Mufti told 'don't bother coming back' |date=12 January 2007|work=[The Age](/source/The_Age)|accessdate=14 November 2014}} * Trad succeeded in bringing a defamation claim against a Sydney radio station which described him as racist and offensive. A three judge panel in the Court of Appeal found that the Supreme Court Judge did not have a basis for describing Trad racist or offensive. However, the court ordered that only half of Trad's appeal costs be paid as some of the imputations fell under the technicality "reply to attack".{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/trad-wins-radio-defamation-appeal-20110326-1cb6b.html | title=Trad wins radio defamation appeal | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=27 March 2011}} * In 2010, Trad advocated [Shari'ah](/source/Shari'ah) courts for Muslims to deal with matters relating to divorce and inheritance. He has also supported polygamy as an alternative to extramarital relations. * In 2014 Trad defended boys performing as, "Soldiers of [Khilafa](/source/Khilafa)" who were chanting the [American President](/source/Barack_Obama) should go to hell and calling for the head of the [Syrian President](/source/Bashar_al-Assad). Trad said, rather, they were singing a song about the Syrian revolution.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/terror/muslim-leaders-split-on-boys-hate-video/story-fnpdbcmu-1227107714489|title=Muslim leaders split on boys' 'hate' video |author=Berkovic, Nicola|date=31 October 2014|work=[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)|accessdate=15 November 2014}} * In September 2016 Trad said he wanted a [second wife](/source/Polygyny_in_Islam), with his current wife who is a year younger than him being supportive.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/secondwifecom-site-gaining-traction-in-australia-says-uk-founder-20160908-grbzoo.html |title=Secondwife.com site gaining traction in Australia, says UK founder |author=Olding, Rachel|date=10 September 2016|work=[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)|accessdate=29 September 2016}} * In February 2017, in response to a question regarding the meaning of Quran [Chapter 4, Surah 34](/source/An-Nisa%2C_34), Trad said a husband can beat his wife, but only as "a last resort".{{cite news|url=https://tenplay.com.au/news/national/february-2017/wife-beating-okay-says-senior-islamic-leader |title=Wife beating okay says senior Islamic leader |date=23 February 2017|work=TenPlay|accessdate=24 February 2017}} He later apologised for his statements mentioning that Islam does not allow for this by telling the truth that the Quran condemns all violence against women.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/keysar-trad-violence-is-a-last-resort/news-story/357f96aa84d6cd79658b4bb807c72a54 |title=Keysar Trad: 'violence is a last resort' |author=Balogh, Stefanie|date=23 February 2017|work=[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)|accessdate=24 February 2017}} ==See also== {{Portal|Islam|Australia}} *[Australian Federation of Islamic Councils](/source/Australian_Federation_of_Islamic_Councils) *[Islam in Australia](/source/Islam_in_Australia) *[Islamic organisations in Australia](/source/Islamic_organisations_in_Australia) == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.speednet.com.au/~keysar/ Islamic Friendship Association] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070220154718/http://www.zip.com.au/~josken/52.htm Trad on Gays and Lesbians] * [https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/26179 Letters to Green Left Weekly] [Green Left Weekly](/source/Green_Left_Weekly), 11 December 2002. Trad replying to allegations about comments relating to homosexuals. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124131039/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s1233723.htm Keysar Trad on an alternative Australian Muslim leadership] The Religion Report, [Radio National](/source/Radio_National), 20 October 2004 {{DEFAULTSORT:Trad, Keysar}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Lebanese emigrants to Australia Category:Australian Muslims --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Keysar Trad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keysar_Trad) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keysar_Trad?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.