Appalled!
I have never been one to pay too much attention to the mindless comments, which occasionally and often regrettably slip from the mouths of politicians, religious leaders (i.e. the pope) and actors (i.e. Mel Gibson). Such things are more often than not the result of misinterpretation or inebriation (the later of which though not an excuse is somewhat understandable/explained (?)). But I was so deeply offended by the recent comments made during a sermon by Australia’s Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali in which he suggested that immodestly dressed women are responsible for being raped:
"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat. The uncovered meat is the problem."
"If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijib (head scarf), no problem would have occurred."
And his defence: his comment was misinterpreted! Phfffft! There is no way the above could be interpreted any other way. And frustratingly, he didn’t apologise for these comments, only that he was sorry they were misinterpreted, nor was he made to resign. I think it is quite scary that he will be allowed to continue to preach such violence-provoking views to hundreds of young Muslim men.
I know he has also outraged many in the Muslim community, several of which have spoken out against his ‘out of touch’ comments.
I hope he receives overwhelming community pressure to resign.
"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat. The uncovered meat is the problem."
"If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijib (head scarf), no problem would have occurred."
And his defence: his comment was misinterpreted! Phfffft! There is no way the above could be interpreted any other way. And frustratingly, he didn’t apologise for these comments, only that he was sorry they were misinterpreted, nor was he made to resign. I think it is quite scary that he will be allowed to continue to preach such violence-provoking views to hundreds of young Muslim men.
I know he has also outraged many in the Muslim community, several of which have spoken out against his ‘out of touch’ comments.
I hope he receives overwhelming community pressure to resign.