Iktimal Hage-Ali

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Iktimal Hage-Ali [1] (b. 1983) is an Australian woman of Lebanese descent, who is an Alawite[1] and who was a member of the government appointed Muslim Reference Group.[2] After seven years experience volunteering for her local community and advocating for the rights of young people, Iktimal was appointed deputy chairwoman of the NSW Youth Advisory Council. She has also recently won NSW Young Australian of the Year.[3] She is currently employed at the Attorney-General's Department in NSW as a project officer.[4]

She was recently arrested in a cocaine bust eight days before receiving the NSW Young Australian of the Year award. Her home nor personal belongings were searched and due to no evidence being found to substainate the allegations causing arrest she was released without charge two hours later.

As a result however she has handed back her NSW Young Australian of the Year award, saying it would be selfish to hang onto it in light of the negative publicity and the contiouis media attack. She has stated that she is unable to defend herself in the media as she may be in contempt of court in doing so.[5]

Friends of Hage-Ali strongly suspect that she was the subject of a smear campaign. In December 2006, The Australian alleged that Detective Tamar Kilani and his brother Ahmed Kilani who is a co-founder of Muslim Village, had launched a smear campaign against her. The Middle East Crime Squad has worked closely with Sheik Hilaly. Hage-Ali's friends suspect that the alleged smear campaign may be the result of her criticism of a sermon by Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly or because she doesn't wear a head-scarf. [6] Ahmed Kilani said that allegations of a smear campaign were "absolutely ridiculous", and a police officer has called the link between the Detective and the forum "just a coincidence." [6] Members of Muslim Village have also reacted angrily to the claims. [7]

She lives in the heart of Sydney's Muslim community, in the south-western suburb of Punchbowl.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Reference Group Members. Retrieved on January 9, 2007.
  2. ^ The Age Article. Retrieved on December 11, 2006.
  3. ^ News Corporation Article. Retrieved on December 11, 2006.
  4. ^ News Corporation Article. Retrieved on December 13, 2006.
  5. ^ News Corporation Article. Retrieved on December 15, 2006.
  6. ^ a b Sheik Hilaly link in young foe's drug raid [[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|]] by Richard Kerbaj and Steve Barrett, December 14, 2006.
  7. ^ Anger on Muslim web forum Sydney Morning Herald by Dylan Welch, December 15, 2006.
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