Rateb Jneid, a former bankrupt, builder, lawyer, religious minister, and marriage celebrant with a plethora of degrees, has found himself at the center of a civil war within Australia's top Muslim organization, the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC). Jneid, the president of AFIC, has been accused of hijacking the organization and mismanaging its affairs, with claims of donations linked to his family's charities and a potential loss of charity status. This internal conflict has led to expelled members, email campaigns to foreign embassies, and a warning from the government regulator.
Jneid's presidency has been marked by delays and control over the organization, despite his family's history of drug trafficking and financial irregularities. His brothers, Ziad and Rabih Jneid, were sentenced for methamphetamine trafficking, while two other brothers, Khaled Jneid and Zakaria Jneid, owe significant fines to the Western Australian government. The family's involvement in the charity International Humanitarian Aid Inc. has also raised questions, with little public record of aid distribution and concerns over financial transparency.
The internal dispute has escalated, with Jneid's former assistant treasurer, Mohammed Berjaoui, claiming the body has strayed from its founding purpose. Berjaoui's removal from the executive committee and the dissemination of misleading material have fueled the conflict. The situation has led to anonymous emails, threats, and accusations, with Jneid's allies facing assault charges. The internal warfare has left AFIC in a state of turmoil, with election delays and legal feuds with its NSW affiliate, United Muslims NSW.
The charity regulator, ACNC, has also warned AFIC of the risk of losing its charity status due to conflicts of interest and accountability issues. This could financially cripple the organization, which represents over 800,000 Muslim Australians. The internal strife and external scrutiny highlight the challenges of managing a diverse and politically charged organization, with Jneid's leadership and influence at the center of the controversy.
