Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali Lied

From AP:

An Islamic cleric trying to negotiate the release of an Australian kidnapped in Iraq said today he had only seen footage of the hostage indicating that he was alive, not the man himself.

Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali, the Sydney-based mufti of Australia, is in Iraq to try secure the release of Douglas Wood, a 63-year-old Australian based in California who was captured late April.

"I have seen a recent CD video lasting 12 to 15 minutes where Wood is alive and good and in honest hands,'' Alhilali told The Associated Press in Baghdad.

Asked if had met Wood during his latest mission to Iraq, the Egyptian-born cleric said he had only seen the footage, which he has passed on to Australian authorities.

...Alhilali's comments came a day after a senior Muslim leader in Australia claimed the mufti had said he had seen Wood "eye to eye."

WHAT???

Ikebal Patel, from the Federation of Islamic Councils, said he had spoken with Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali over the phone last Thursday.

According to Patel, "He said to me: 'I've seen him eye to eye', those were the words he used, eye to eye, it was Douglas."

How does "eye to eye" become footage?

I'm praying for Mr. Wood's safe return. I'm praying that his tortured family can soon rejoice is his release. I'm praying that Alhilali gets his act together and stops jerking around Mr. Wood's loved ones by putting out lies.