Hilali was rushed to hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. (Courtesy: The Australian).

CAIRO — The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), which appoints the Mufti of Australia, will vote to abolish the position at the elections of its new executive board in February, while the incumbent mufti hinted he could step down over the controversy sparked by his recent women remarks.

"I don't believe Australia needs a mufti," AFIC spokesman Haset Sali told The Australian newspaper.

Sali said he would work with other AFIC executives to ensure that the position of mufti was struck off the council's constitution.

"If I have anything to do with it, I think it will be (abolished) because I don't think there is a person in Australia at the present time who could fulfil that position in a positive and constructive manner.

"And I just don't think that there is someone who would be not only an eminent scholar but also capable of communicating in a constructive and positive way with the English-speaking community in Australia."

Mufti of Australia Sheikh Taj Aldin al-Hilali has found himself in the midst of a firestorm after he had likened immodestly dressed women to "uncovered meat" that might invite rapists.

Sali said Hilali's ignorance of Australian values and lack of English language skills were to blame for the unguarded comments he had made.

"That's the difficulty he's faced all along. This is not something that just popped up last week, it's just been an ongoing problem."

Muslims, estimated at 300,000, make up 1.5 percent of Australia's population of 20 million.

Indefinite Leave

Hilali decided Monday during a meeting with Muslim leaders in Sydney to take an indefinite leave from his duties, the strongest indication that he might step down.

"In due course I will take the necessary decision that shall lift the pressures that have been placed on our Australian Muslims and which will benefit all Australians," he said in a statement read out by Tom Zreika, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) which runs the Lakemba mosque where the Egyptian-born scholar preaches.

Hilali apologized again for any offence caused by his comments and described women as "the cherished pearls, the dearest thing in the world."

The beleaguered mufti conceded his comparison of scantily-clad women to uncovered meat was "inappropriate and unacceptable for the Australian society and the Western society in general".

Zreika stressed that Hilali had not been sacked.

"That is the limit of our powers and it came from him, it didn't come from us. If he wants to resign, that's the matter for the mufti of Australia," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"He has asked for indefinite leave from the duties at Lakemba mosque," said Zreika.

Last week the LMA suspended Al-Hilali's sermons at Lakemba mosque for a couple of months.

Hilali suffered a mild heart attack during the meeting and was rushed to the Canterbury Hospital in Sydney.

He was reportedly in a stable condition but would remain in hospital for several days.