Mel Gibson offers support to MCRG chairperson

Mel Gibson has taken time out of alcohol rehab in Los Angeles to voice support for the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Muslim Community Reference Group (MCRG) Dr Ameer Ali.

Ali has come under intense criticism for recent comments reported in The Australian newspaper about the allegedly ‘flawed character’ of the Prophet Muhammad and the need for a radical reinterpretation of the Qu’ran.

“I just want Dr Ali know that there is at least one person out there that knows what he is going through,” said Mel Gibson. “We all have our moments where we say things we might regret later. In fact, I had one recently.”

Mel Gibson was recently arrested for drink driving offences, shocking police officers by launching into an anti-Semitic rant. “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” Gibson said before asking the arresting deputy, “Are you a Jew?”

Some critics have questioned whether it is appropriate for Mel Gibson to be commenting on the Dr Ali case given his own recent history and brush with controversy.

“My statements about Jews may not have been quite so extreme as those that Dr Ali reportedly made about Islam but that doesn’t mean I should shun him. He’s a human like me and he needs our understanding and forgiveness.”