The Muslim cleric was repeatedly beaten with a shoe when an on-air row over the Islamic veil turned violent.
The fight broke out live on Egypt's popular LTC TV during a discussion about the place of the burka in the Islamic world.
Sydney imam Mostafa Rashid claimed that the headscarf is a cultural tradition rather than a religious duty.
This prompted an Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh to take off his shoe and beat the mufti.
The fierce and physical dispute began when the pair savaged each other with personal insults.
Mr Rashid is known for his soft attitudes towards religious matters, such as alcohol.
Mr Al-Wahsh questioned his scholarly credentials and said: "You said you were the Mufti of Australia and a scholar in Sydney, but there’s not even a mosque in Sydney."
He then told his opponent that he was an "apostate".
Mr Rashid responded by accusing Al-Wahsh of being mentally ill. [Daily Express] Read more
