Anger at Al Hilaly's 'uncovered meat' remarksA senior Muslim cleric has drawn criticism for reportedly preaching that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress and their actions.
Sheikh Taj el-din Al Hilaly is reported as saying that women who do not wear the hijab, or headdress, are like uncovered meat.The quotes, taken from a sermon the cleric made in Sydney last month, are published in The Australian today.
The ABC has been unable to contact Sheikh Al Hilaly, but an associate Keysar Trad, says the mufti's comments have been taken out of context.
"He wasn't talking about rape in any way," Mr Trad said.
"He wasn't talking about standard norms of dress in Australia or any country, he wasn't talking about the hijab, he was talking about people who engage in extramarital sex.
But the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner and New South Wales Liberal Party candidate, Pru Goward, does not believe the Sheikh can backtrack over his comments.
She says he could be guilty of incitement to the crime of rape, and he should be deported.
"On that basis he can, if his visa arrangements are appropriate, be deported," Ms Goward said.
"I would strongly urge the Islamic leadership to ask him to go, we would all support that.
"There is a pattern of these statements, we are a tolerant people but incitement to the crime of rape is not acceptable."
'Flabbergasted'
A former member of the Federal Government's Muslim Advisory board, Iktimal Hage-Ali, says Sheikh Al Hilaly should be stripped of his position.
Ms Hage-Ali has heard a recording of a speech made by the Sheikh last month, in which he said women can be blamed for attracting sexual assault if they do not dress appropriately.
She says she is disgusted by the comments.
She quotes the Sheikh as saying "When it comes to adultery 90 per cent of the blame is on a woman. "If a woman puts powder on her face and puts lipstick [on] and struts her stuff then she should be held at fault, if a man comes and attacks her and then that analogy about meat and cats.She says she was "just flabbergasted".
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner, Mick Keelty, says the furore over comments attributed to the Sheikh may damage relations with the Islamic community.
Commissioner Keelty says the Sheikh's comments could cause links with the Islamic community to be strained.
"What we're trying to do is work closely with the Islamic community - all of us - and understand them better and I guess this just, you know, doesn't help that cause," Commissioner Keelty said.
Political condemnation
The Treasurer Peter Costello has also condemned the reported comments by Sheikh Al Hilaly.
Speaking on Channel 7, Mr Costello said the Muslim community must condemn the comments and take action against the Sheikh.
"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, or at least lighten the dehumanising and degrading extent of the offence, then people that listen to that kind of comment can get the wrong idea," Mr Costello said.
Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the remarks are offensive and the mufti should apologise for them.
"They are offensive and they should be retracted by him, they should be retracted immediately," Mr Beazley said.
"Those offensive statements should not be permitted to stand."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1773857.htm 
