Australia’s chief Muslim cleric, Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, has been in the media spotlight again over controversial comments made in an interview given in his birth country of Egypt that aired throughout the Middle East. Referring to gay unions the Sheik said ‘I understand the mentality of the West and especially the Australian mentality and I understand that the Australian law guarantees freedoms to the point of insanity.â? The cleric also dismissed the sudden outburst over his insult to women and defense of gang rapists while claiming Muslims had more of a right to live in Australia than the descendants of convicts. President of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, Keysar Trad, agreed that while some of Sheik Hilali’s comments were controversial, he had the right to explain himself upon return to Australia.