The Mufti's Salary

MUFTI OF JERUSALEM.HC Deb 08 July 1936 vol 314 c1178

26. Mr. PICKTHORN asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Mufti of Jerusalem was selected for his appointment by the High Commissioner for Palestine or elected by his fellow Moslems?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE I am glad to have the opportunity to make this matter clear. The Mufti of Jerusalem holds the appointment of Rais el-Ulema or President of the Supreme Moslem Sharia Council. His Eminence was elected to this office in 1922 by a Moslem general committee which was itself elected by secondary electors.

Captain PETER MACDONALD Is it not a fact that the Mufti is not and never has been a Government official, as has been alleged?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE I say that he was elected by Mohammedans, but he is recognised by the Government.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS Is it not the case that the Grand Mufti does receive £600 per annum from the Palestine Government?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE As I explained before, in respect of purely judicial functions he receives, as do the Judges in Palestine, remuneration from public funds.

So, how much was he paid?

By the way, in 1930, for example, 600 pounds sterling would have been worth about 34,000 pounds in today's market.

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