Pious Muslim Insurgent has a six page criminal record
Man refused bail over Sydney protest
September 16, 2012 2:05PM
A FATHER of three charged with affray after a Sydney protest against an anti-Islam film turned violent has been refused bail.
Ahmed Elomar, a 29-year-old champion boxer, was one of six men charged over demonstrations in central Sydney on Saturday but the only one denied bail.
The other defendants will face court next month.
Elomar displayed little emotion as he appeared in Parramatta Bail Court via video link on Sunday wearing a T-shirt displaying the phrase "6th pillar".
He had been charged with affray and previously breaching bail for driving offences.
Defence lawyer Greg Scragg argued that his client had not taken part in alleged acts of throwing bottles at police during the Sydney protest, adding that a shoulder injury sustained from a skiing accident in August had been exacerbated by his arrest.
"He was caught up in circumstances that got out of hand," Mr Scragg said.
"His arrest was not justified. His arrest was done in circumstances of over-policing.
"He was taken to the ground. While he was on the ground he was kneed in the back, he was sprayed with pepper spray."
Magistrate Andrew George said Elomar had breached bail for driving offences and could not be trusted to obey his bail conditions.
"His disqualified driving offence raises concern that he's a person who holds contempt for orders made before the court," Mr George said.
Elomar's matter was adjourned until September 18 for a plea or mention at Central Local Court.
Police were called to Parramatta Bail Court after one of Elomar's supporters threatened cameramen from the Seven and Nine networks with violence.
The police were summoned by court authorities. Ten supporters left the courthouse without incident.
My boy Trigger brainwashed by a Muslim cleric
Taghred Chandab
July 1, 2007
Ahmed Elomar and his wife Najatt on their wedding day.
Photo: Adam Hollingworth
THE angry father of an Australian boxing champion arrested in Lebanon said yesterday his son had been brainwashed by a radical Muslim cleric who had been based in Liverpool.
Father-of-five Mamdouh Elomar attacked Sheik Feiz Mohammed yesterday, saying his hardline approach to Islam was wrong. He told The Sun-Herald that he urged his children to stay away from the cleric and the Global Islamic Youth Centre at Liverpool.
"Sheiks like Sheik Feiz ruin people," he said from his south-west Sydney home.
"He is not a sheik. He is brainwashing all these children. I know my religion so I can tell him when he is wrong, but these kids believe everything he says and think it's their religion. Someone needs to stop him.
"Today our kids are either at one extreme, partying or using drugs, or at another extreme with their religion. I don't teach my children to hate non-Muslims. I have taught them to love everyone."
Mr Elomar's son Ahmed, 24, nicknamed "Trigger" in the boxing community, was arrested in Lebanon last month with two other Australians, Ibrahim Sabouh and Mohammad Basal, and accused of having links to a terror cell in Lebanon. The men have not been charged.
He had been holidaying in Tripoli, Lebanon, for two weeks with his wife, Najat, 25, and two sons aged five and three before his arrest 11 days ago. The young father was considering moving to Lebanon after falling in love with the country last year.
The Sun-Herald understands that the featherweight champion, who is also the nephew of Sydney terror suspect Mohammad Ali Elomar, left his wife's family home at 10am with several friends and was arrested several hours later. His father said it was still unclear if he was arrested in a raid or on the street for not having identification.
"I know in my heart that my son has done nothing wrong," Mr Elomar said. "But if he has, I support the Lebanese Government and army. Ahmed is a good boy and cheeky, but he has a soft heart."
He said he had never heard of Ibrahim Sabouh, but thought his son might have known Mohammad Basal.
Ahmed, also known as "the Lebanese cowboy" because of his passion for Arabian horses, was devastated after his uncle was arrested in November 2005.
"It's disappointing because my uncle's not like that," he said in 2005. "It's upset the whole family."
Meanwhile, Sheik Feiz, who is working as a carpenter in Malaysia having earlier moved to Lebanon to escape constant ASIO surveillance, said through an associate last week that he was aware that he was wanted for questioning in Lebanon.
He said he was outraged by the allegations that he and his friends were linked to a terror cell.
"We should be entitled to say what we want so as long as we don't hurt anyone," he said through his associate.
"I know they [Lebanese authorities] want to talk to me, but I am not afraid because I haven't done anything. I will leave it in God's hands."
Sheik Feiz also said he had spoken to a Lebanese citizen captured with the Australians who witnessed one of the men being beaten.
He said he wanted the Australian Government to try harder to help its citizens.
