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Australian cleric in dress furore

The cleric says his comments were taken out of context
Australia's most senior Muslim cleric has prompted an uproar by saying that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress.
Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like "uncovered meat".

But he has now apologised for any offence caused by his comments, The Australian newspaper reports.

Leading Muslim women condemned the comments and PM John Howard said the remarks were "appalling".

"The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous," Mr Howard told reporters.

In a statement released on Thursday, Sheikh Hilali said he had been quoting another, unnamed, source and did not mean his words to condone rape.

"I unreservedly apologise to any woman who is offended by my comments. I had only intended to protect women's honour," the statement published in The Australian said.

SHEIKH TAJ EL-DIN AL-HILALI
Born in Egypt
Aged 64
Imam in Sydney
Appointed mufti of Australia in 1989

"Women in our Australian society have the freedom and the right to dress as they choose.

"Whether a man endorses or not a particular form of dress, any form of harassment of women is unacceptable."

A spokesman for Sheikh Hilali earlier said the quote had been taken out of context and referred not to sexual assault, but to sexual infidelity.

The sermon was targeted against men and women who engaged in extra-marital sex and did so through alluring types of clothes, he said.

Ban threat

The leader of Australia's largest Islamic organisation has threatened to ban the cleric from teaching at Lakemba Mosque in Western Sydney.

Tom Zreika, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which owns the mosque, said he condemned Sheikh Hilali's words.

"The board [of the LMA] has unlimited powers in respect of his teachings in the mosque. We can do anything that's required to prevent him from teaching in our mosque. If you haven't got the backing of Australia's largest and most established Islamic organisation then you are out on a limb," he is quoted as saying in The Australian.

If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred

Sheikh Hilali


Controversial mufti
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But Mr Zreika said the LMA had yet to fully review the contents of the sermon and Sheik Hilali should be offered the benefit of the doubt until any offence had been proved.

A copy of the cleric's comments delivered in a sermon to some 500 worshippers in Sydney last month during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was initially published in The Australian.

"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside... and the cats come and eat it... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat?" he asked.

The uncovered meat is the problem, he went on to say.

"If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred," he added.

Sheikh Hilali also condemned women who swayed suggestively and wore make-up, implying they attracted sexual assault.

"Then you get a judge without mercy... and gives you 65 years," he added.

Sheikh Hilali's critics have previously accused him of praising suicide bombers and claiming the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 were "God's work against oppressors".

High-profile case

The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the cleric's latest comments are seen as particularly insensitive because Sydney was the scene six years ago of a series of gang rapes committed by a group of Lebanese Australians, who received long prison sentences.

Finance Minister Peter Costello called on Muslims to condemn the speech.

"If you have a significant religious leader like this preaching to a flock in a situation where we've had gang rapes, in a way that seems to make it justifiable, then people that listen to that kind of comment can get the wrong idea," he said.

"They can actually think that it's not as bad as it is."

A number of leading Muslim women have already spoken out against the sermon, describing it as repulsive and offensive.

Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said the comments could be an incitement to crime.

"Young Muslim men who now rape women can cite this in court, can quote this man... their leader in court," she told Australian media.

She added that the cleric should be deported for inciting rape.





Its from BBC so you take your chances


Im eargely awaiting the muslim world to condemn this leader of thier faith for his intolerant, sexist , anti-western and discriminatory comments. but im not holding my breath

   

We need more people like this woman to speak up against these freaks.

And you wonder why they had a little muslim bash at the beach a couple of years ago, the Aussie public won't stand for this.

   

Who do you expect to issue this "condemnation" exactly? local Muslims taking out a huge ad? A petition perhaps? Presented to whom?

   

...because they're violently opposed to intolerance.

   

Yep, it's the only thing they know. I guess you're of the "JACK" crowd, lets go have tea and crumpets together.

And FMI, when is "intolerant words" the meaning for rape?

   

Well i would be happy if the Imams from the top 5 ho0liest Shrines would come out and say that women have the right to choose to be in the veil, and that if a woman wears makeup muslim or not that she doesnt invite rape. I would also like them to come out together and completely refute this moron, say that he is apeaking against islam, angainst human rights, and agasint womens rights, further that he should be expelled from his position. Further they should apologize to women across the world for the violent and disrespectful words that one of thier top religious leaders made clear that he believes in


Hows that?

   

It's about time that this happens. Muslim groups across Australia are calling for this guy to get shipped out. It's everyone from the PM to the little librarian. Muslims have to take responsibility for their own nut case leaders. The process may actually help them to understand and apriciate Western freedoms and processes.

Now if only we would do our part and jetison Dorris Day and Pat Robertson.

   

Pretty darned good, I'd say. But I bet you couldn't get five Protestant leaders to agree on a questionable point of interpretation any more than you could from imams. Definitely not so with five Torah scholars - in each of those two examples with exemplar representatives from moderate (liberal) to extreme fundamentalist point of view.

Are you demanding more of Islam than you do other other faiths who do not have a supreme leader who dictates doctrine?

   

Nope i think all faiths should be aware that simply because one has religious views, it does not give one liscence to inflame feelings by making idiotic statemets. I would like the opoe to make a clear and open apology to all the victims of pedophile priests, i would like the Arch bishop of Cantebury and the Pope both apologize for not coming out agasint the violence northern Irlenad for decades. I could go on about other major religions and thier views on the human condition.

The point being is that it doesnt matter whether one has a religious view of whether you think women should cover themselves up or not, saying that because women decide not to wear a veil or to wear make-up means that women are asking to be raped highlights why secular culture must be predominte in the west and the mixing of religion of politics and religion is an incredibly bad idea

   

I'd be fairly content with 5 regular muslims saying something. At least it would be a start.

   

Muslims get raped even if they wear a veil especially in the Middle East. People who rape others will do so regardless of what they are wearing. Although I believe blondes are more preferred in many countries especially in the Middle East. When my mum went there she said people tried to capture her. So when you have these same people criticise our society is really stupid when they should look at their own and how savage it is.

   

Because the Aussies started the fight and were encouraged by local radio stations.

   

Well, just as each of the world's Christians don't all spring into action every time Pat Robertson says something stupid, I think it's a bit broad to expect "the muslim world" to take action. But those who have some actual control (and hence responsibility) over the guy are investigating the matter, and his chances of becoming unemployed in the next few days seem to be quite good.



If I come across any mention of the final outcome I will post it.

   

Looks like it's going to be a compromise.

   

This i expect from you, more moral equivalency. You obviously didnt read my later post where i said that all religions should be apoligizing for their crimes. but since i didnt see that you condemned his speech, then you must support it.


Unless you do condemn it?

   

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