Other names Abu Ayman Name Mohammed Omran Religion Salafi, Muslim | Title Sheikh Ethnicity Arab | |
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Alma mater Islamic University of Medina (Saudi Arabia) Organization Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association (Australia) - ASWJA logo | ||
Mohammed Omran, also known as Sheikh Abu Ayman, established the Australian branch of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association, with one report saying Omran is Australia’s most senior Salafist cleric.
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Animality contest mohammed omran creativestation
Early life
Omran was born in Jordan, studied in Saudi Arabia and was sponsored to Australia by the Medina University. He is aligned with the Salafi sect,
Radicalism
Omran is said to be the grandfather of Islamic fundamentalism in Melbourne, however, he made it clear he is against all forms of terrorism
In 1985 Omran established the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association of Australia (ASWJA).
In 2005, when speaking about Osama bin Laden he said, "When you look at the man from some part of his life, yes he is a great man" and that bin Laden is, "a good man in some ways, and not in other ways". A member of the advisory committee for ASWJA said Omran's words were taken out of context.
In 2007, Omran was said to be the spiritual leader of the Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia.
He established prayer-halls in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. At his centre in Brunswick, Victoria, the convicted-terrorist, Abdul Nacer Benbrika was said to have been a teacher and a deputy-leader. Omran has denied that he had close ties with Benbrika.
Omran was said to be the spiritual leader of Australian extremists. A claim Omran denies.
With Omran said to have, "the respect of many of those at-risk of being recruited to terrorism", the Australian government has said that it is critical for Islamic leaders, including Omran, to use their influence to stem terrorism.
Harun Mehicevic the leader of Melbourne's Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre was a student of Sheik Abu Ayman. ASWJ installed Mehicevic as the leader and provided the funds to set up the centre. There has been a subsequent falling-out between the groups.
In March 2016 it was reported that Omran's son Ayman Omran had been killed in Syria while performing humanitarian aid.