Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly

Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly
تاج الدين الهلالي
Religion	Islam
School	Sunni
Personal
Born	c. 1941 (age 76–77) Egypt
Senior posting
Period in office	1992–2007
Successor	Fehmi Naji

Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly (Arabic: تاج الدين الهلالي‎; born Egypt c. 1941), is a former Imam of Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and an Australian Sunni Muslim leader. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils appointed him Mufti of Australia in 1988. His name is alternatively spelt Tajeddin Hilaly, Hilali, Al-Hilaly, Taj el-Din al-Hilali, Aldin Alhilali, Tajideen El-Hilaly or Tajeddine. He referred to himself as the Grand Mufti of Australia and New Zealand, although this title was not unanimously endorsed, and has also been described by some Muslims as honorary, rather than substantial. After a series of controversial statements on social issues, Hilaly retired from this position in June 2007 and was succeeded by Fehmi Naji.

Hilaly arrived in Australia in 1982 on a tourist visa from Lebanon. Although the visa was temporary, it was routinely reissued until 1988 when then Minister for Immigration Chris Hurford attempted to have Hilaly deported for being against "Australian values". The Islamic community showed strong support for Hilaly to remain in Australia, and Hilaly was eventually granted permanent residence in 1990 by Hurford's successor Gerry Hand.

Hilaly served as Imam at Lakemba Mosque, which is run by the Lebanese Muslim Association. However, his wages are paid by "the Libyan Islamic Call Society and private individuals", according to a former vice-president of the LMA.

In 1999 Hilaly was charged and jailed after being convicted of being involved in smuggling goods from Egypt.

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