Senior Muslim Cleric Compares Women's Heads To 'Uncovered Meat'

**TXCharlie** · 10-26-06, 01:39 PM

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/10165430/detail.html

SYDNEY, Australia -- A senior Muslim cleric compared women who go without a head scarf to "uncovered meat" left out for scavengers, drawing widespread condemnation and calls Thursday for his resignation.

Sheik Taj Aldin al Hilali denied he was condoning rape when he made the comments in a sermon last month, and apologized to any women he had offended, saying they were free to dress as they wished.

Hilali was quoted in The Australian newspaper Thursday as saying in the sermon: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... without cover, and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's?"

"The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred," he was quoted as saying, referring to the headdress worn by some Muslim women.

Prime Minister John Howard called the remarks "appalling and reprehensible."

"The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous," Howard said.

The comments come during a heated debate in Britain about religious freedom centered around whether Muslim women should wear veils. Similar passions raged when France banned head scarves and other religious symbols in public schools two years ago.

In Australia, there was widespread condemnation Thursday of the cleric's comments from other Muslim leaders, civil libertarians and political leaders.

Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said Hilali's comment was an incitement to rape and that Australia's Muslims should force him to resign.

"This is inciting young men to a violent crime because it is the woman's fault," Goward told television's Nine Network. "It is time the Islamic community did more than say they were horrified. I think it is time he left."

Hilali is the top cleric at Sydney's largest mosque, and is considered the most senior Islamic leader by many Muslims in Australia and New Zealand.

He has in the past served as an adviser to the Australian government on Muslim issues, but triggered a controversy in 2004 for saying in a sermon in Lebanon that the Sept. 11 attacks were "God's work against the oppressors." Hilali said later he did not mean that he supported the attacks, or terrorism.

Relations between Australia's almost 300,000 Muslims and the majority Christian-heritage population are tense following riots last December that often pitted white gangs against youths of Middle Eastern decent.

Howard offended some Muslims recently by singling out some Muslims as extremists who should adopt Australia's Western liberal attitudes to women's rights.

Many Muslims say they are increasingly treated with suspicion since the Sept. 11 and other international terrorist attacks. Waleed Aly, a member of the Islamic Council of Victoria state, said Hilali's comments would result in more antagonism toward Muslims.

"I am expecting a deluge of hate mail," he said. "I am expecting people to get abused in the street and get abused at work."

Hilali said in a statement he was shocked by Thursday's reaction to his sermon.

"The presentation related to religious teachings on modesty and not to go to extremes in enticements, this does not condone rape, I condemn rape," he said.

"Women in our Australian society have the freedom and right to dress as they choose, the duty of man is to avert his glance or walk away," he said.

CopsRCool302 · 10-26-06, 01:52 PM

Not all Muslim men force their wifes to wear them goofy head gear, but my sister wears it to be seen.. but than again, she lives in the US..

But from my study of their faith, they cover their heads because their moon god thinks they are ugly..

**TXCharlie** · 10-26-06, 01:59 PM

What scares me is this idiot is the top cleric at Sydney's largest mosque...

That tells me that a lot of other idiots agree with his teachings - There's no way anyone can say that he's alone in his views, or else he would not be top cleric.

CopsRCool302 · 10-26-06, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

What scares me is this idiot is the top cleric at Sydney's largest mosque...

That tells me that a lot of other idiots agree with his teachings - There's no way anyone can say that he's alone in his views, or else he would not be top cleric.

+1

**bayern** · 10-26-06, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie
What scares me is this idiot is the top cleric at Sydney's largest mosque...

That tells me that a lot of other idiots agree with his teachings - There's no way anyone can say that he's alone in his views, or else he would not be top cleric.

What is more scarey, this shit for brains is ALIVE.

**gozling** · 10-26-06, 02:35 PM

my question is this...if it is a piece of meat set out.. how did it get there?
someone put it there so.. NO its not the meats fault or the cats fault which equals......

NO ONES fault cept for the shitbag rapist.... lol
geesh

what a stupid analogy and idea to begin with... but that is just my opinion and sorry if i offend anyone

**kay88** · 10-26-06, 02:44 PM

Wow...that is brutally horrible. It is scary that there are people like that in this world. Unbelievable.

**kay88** · 10-26-06, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by gozling

my question is this...if it is a piece of meat set out.. how did it get there?
someone put it there so.. NO its not the meats fault or the cats fault which equals......

NO ONES fault cept for the shitbag rapist.... lol
geesh

what a stupid analogy and idea to begin with... but that is just my opinion and sorry if i offend anyone

+1

**kay88** · 10-26-06, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by gozling

my question is this...if it is a piece of meat set out.. how did it get there?
someone put it there so.. NO its not the meats fault or the cats fault which equals......

NO ONES fault cept for the shitbag rapist.... lol
geesh

what a stupid analogy and idea to begin with... but that is just my opinion and sorry if i offend anyone

+1 I can't believe he would blame the woman for her rape...

**TheOldRhino** · 10-26-06, 02:52 PM

Geez... comparing a woman's head to a piece of meat... that's terrible!!

A piece of meat doesn't make that much noise. It's an insult to meat everywhere!

Oh, wait... y'all were offended for some other reason, weren't you?

**cwtlady** · 10-26-06, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Rhino

Geez... comparing a woman's head to a piece of meat... that's terrible!!

A piece of meat doesn't make that much noise. It's an insult to meat everywhere!

Oh, wait... y'all were offended for some other reason, weren't you?

Yup, I was a little offended by that other reason. But this is par for the course as far as radical muslim teachings.

**gozling** · 10-26-06, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Rhino

Geez... comparing a woman's head to a piece of meat... that's terrible!!

A piece of meat doesn't make that much noise. It's an insult to meat everywhere!

Oh, wait... y'all were offended for some other reason, weren't you?

silence is golden but duct tape is silver

**TheOldRhino** · 10-26-06, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by gozling

silence is golden but duct tape is silver

**cwtlady** · 10-26-06, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rhino

At a loss for words?

That's good. I don't have any duct tape.

**Piggybank Cop** · 10-26-06, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by CopsRCool302

But from my study of their faith, they cover their heads because their moon god thinks they are ugly..

What happened to: There is only one god Allah and Mohammed is his prophet?

**Piggybank Cop** · 10-26-06, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by isthatlegal?

At a loss for words?

That's good. I don't have any duct tape.

Me either' how about some super glue?

**Willowdared** · 10-26-06, 05:13 PM

Misconception: The Quran states that Muslims have to veil

The Quran does not specifically mandate veiling, but simply speaks about modesty, respect, and the covering of the body. In fact, male modesty is more frequently referred to in the Quran then female modesty. In most Muslim societies veiling is not enforced, but a choice. It is a way for Muslims to outwardly show their devotion and respect for Islam. The following excerpts from the Quran encourage both men and women to embrace modesty in their daily lives out of respect for God, their faith, and each other.

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women
to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are
among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be
Muslims) and not annoyed..."(Quran 33:59)

"Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..."(Quran 24:30-31)

http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/ar.../finalveil.htm

**Willowdared** · 10-26-06, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by CopsRCool302

Not all Muslim men force their wifes to wear them goofy head gear, but my sister wears it to be seen.. but than again, she lives in the US..

But from my study of their faith, they cover their heads because their moon god thinks they are ugly..

I think you read the wrong book.