Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali, the Mufti of Australia who compared unveiled women to “uncovered meat” (therefore deserving of rape), is returning to Australia from the Middle East. He’s taking a page from the Council on American Islamic Relations’ playbook, and threatening to sue anyone who criticized his Dark Ages hate speech and support for terrorists: Sheik Alhilali primed to face accusers.

Controversial mufti Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali will return to Australia this week primed to launch legal action against those accusing him of supporting terrorism.

“I will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who directed at me accusations during my absence,” he told SBS Radio from Egypt on Tuesday. “Betraying the country or giving donations to Hezbollah or any terrorist organisation in Lebanon, these are dangerous accusations. This is unacceptable, defamation, without proof, based on malice, racism and based on wrong information.”

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are investigating donations allegedly handed out in Lebanon by Sheik Alhilali to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. According to media reports, the mufti distributed $10,000 to Sheik Bilal Shaaban, the head of the Islamic Unity Movement in Lebanon, who allegedly has links to the radical Islamist movement Hezbollah. …

On SBS Radio, the mufti said Mr Howard, who called him a “joke”, should be honoured to see a migrant claiming to be more “Aussie” than him.

“I love Australia more than anyone. This is competition and not disrespect to his position,” Sheik Alhilali told SBS Radio. “(Mr Howard) knows I am a moderate in Australia. I am against terrorism and fundamentalism. I mean, safety for Australia. I will defend it with all my might, yet (Mr Howard) tries to deprive the community of someone defending moderation. This is a dictatorship.”

Last week, the mufti was quoted by Iranian media as urging Australian Muslims “to stand in the trenches with the Islamic Republic of Iran which possesses the might and the power”.

(Hat tip: Weasel Zippers.)