KEY POINTS:
A senior British Muslim scholar who reportedly supported widely criticised comments by Australia's top Islamic cleric will visit New Zealand next week.
Imam Abduljalil Sajid has been in Australia, where he has met Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali, the mufti who caused outrage after he likened scantily dressed women
to uncovered meat and said they encouraged rape.
Sheik al-Hilali was suspended from preaching for three months but was not stood down from his position.
In Britain, the Times reported Dr Sajid had supported Sheik al-Hilali's comments.
"As far as I am concerned, he is a great scholar and he has a great knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
"I respect his views. His intentions are noble in order to make morality and modesty part of our overall society."
But the organisation bringing Dr Sajid to New Zealand last night denied he had supported Sheik al-Hilali's comments.
Initiatives of Change board member Arthur Davis said: "He saw the Times report and has vigorously denied supporting the comments.
"He claims he was misquoted ... He is trying to distance himself from some of the extreme statements attributed to Sheik al-Hilali.
"Dr Sajid has stated that the Koran and Islam respect women, and any violence against women is against the Islamic faith."
In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation last Tuesday, Dr Sajid said he had met Sheik al-Hilali for three hours.
"I suggested to him that communication skills in English language is not one of the best of his abilities and qualities, though he had been living in Australia and he's [been] Mufti of Australia for 28 years and, as Koran commands us, we must speak the language of the land.
"I suggested to him he had to reflect on what happened.
"I didn't go through in detail what he said or did not say, but I suggested to him that he had to look for his future in a best way that he should speak to the wider community, not to this 1.5 per cent minority community which he represents at this moment, and he promised me that he will look into [it]."
Dr Sajid told the ABC that the comments were taken out of context and were not Sheik al-Hilali's views.
Mr Davis said Dr Sajid's visit to New Zealand was unlikely to be controversial.
"But there's all sorts of things going on all the time and who knows."
Mr Davis said Dr Sajid would talk about a range of topics, including his experiences as a Muslim in Britain.
"He will talk about relationships between the West and Islam, his interpretation of the Islam faith and culture and that Islam is not terrorism-driven."
Dr Sajid will speak at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington next Wednesday.
