§ 32. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in official documents, the Mufti of Jerusalem is always spoken of as His Eminence, seeing that his clerical status is in no way superior to several other muftis in Jerusalem?
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I have no official information as to the origin of this title, but I understand that Haj Amin al-Huseini is accorded by courtesy the title of "His Eminence" by virtue of his appointment as President of the Supreme Moslem Sharia Council in Palestine. Similar courtesy titles are used in addressing the spiritual heads of other religious communities in Palestine.
§ Colonel WedgwoodIf it is solely because he is the head of the Moslem Spiritual Council, may I ask how long that appointment endures, and whether a flight to Syria vacates the post?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI must have notice of that question. The Mufti of Jerusalem is still functioning as head of the Sharia Council.