Not true that top cleric's 'meaty' sermon will go unpunished
October 26th 2006 22:58
World headlines this morning say Australia's top Muslim cleric will not be punished over a sermon in which he likening scantily-dressed women to uncovered meat and saying they're responsible for sexual attacks.
A group of senior Muslims from Sydney's Lakemba Mosque decided last night to accept the argument put by Sheikh Taj Eldin al-Hilaly that his comments were taken out of context from his sermon and that the sermon was targeted against men and women who engaged in extra-marital sex and did so through alluring types of clothes. Reference BBC
Actually, it's not true that he won't be punished. Punishment started yesterday with news that the Federal Government will no longer be asking him to be an advisor to officials and official meetings. Source
And State politicians are calling for tougher action. "Young Muslim men who now rape women can cite this in court, can quote this man… their leader in court," said Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner and New South Wales Liberal Party candidate, Pru Goward. She does not believe the sheikh can backtrack over his comments and insists he could be guilty of incitement to the crime of rape and should be deported.
Source ABC
Meantime the Muslim community has fears ordinary Australians will punish them for their leader's "meaty" views. "I am expecting a deluge of hate mail," said Walid Ali of the Islamic Council of Victoria. "I am expecting people to get abused in the street and get abused at work." Source
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Comment by Nina
The simple fact is, many (if not most) rapes are crimes of power and control, not lust or sex. And when you strip it down, that's what the Sheikh's comments are really about - control. He sees women as inferior creatures, temptresses sent by the devil - and the best way to control them is to cover them from head to toe and keep them locked in their houses, afraid if they go outside showing the tiniest hint of skin they will be attacked by libidinous men, unable to control themselves. While I'm not saying that women shouldn't be allowed to choose to wear traditional islamic clothing if they desire, it shouldn't be done because of fear.
As for whether he will be punished, I can't imagine the road to deportation would be an easy one for the government to take. They will face opposition not only from his supporters but from those that believe that mere words and opinion shouldn't be the basis for such an act. I'm still undecided - while it feels wrong to deport someone for expressing themselves, his words are dangerous and could have dire consequences.
Comment by Suburban Boy
Oz Politics and Kulture!
http://www.orble.com/lawyers-agree-with-muslim-cleric/
I'd be interested in any comments. While the call to do something about the Mufati is warranted so are calls to clean up the legal system which will do more to help women then deporting a stupid old man.
Comment by Big Cat
Chatterpillar
Suburban Boy. Intrigued by your post's title "lawyers agree with muslim cleric", I read it to find that your are criticising judges for allowing defence lawyers to attack the characters of alleged rape victims. You address PM Howard and every one else reacting to the cleric along the lines of Australian secular high moral ground, pointing out that they allow a double-standard to operate in our courts.
The call to make a decision so lawyers and barristers can't use this particular defence tactic needs to be taken up across the community if it is to succeed. Good luck with your post. Such tactics are used in cases other than alleged rape too, as I wrote recently in "Grimy reporters did it to her like Lindy, Denton's interview with Joanne Lees exposes".
My own view is that the double standard is rampant in the community, as the increasing mass appeal of pornography fuelled by the internet confirms. Libidinous people (ones who harbour lustful desires) need to be very careful not to hurt anyone in acting them out. No doubt a lot of men think this when it comes to pornography.
Muslim clerics aren't the only religious leaders keen to get in the ears of such people. Christian rallies of tens of thousands of men in football stadiums in the US also make a moral call on men, starting with the call to love Jesus instead of pornography. It's not an easy thing for libidinous men to do by mere compliance. For a change of heart, an approach is needed that addresses the root cause. But what is the cause - evil or ignorance, upbringing or DNA, testosterone, endorphins?
Comment by Suburban Boy
Oz Politics and Kulture!