Ethnic leaders condemn Muslim cleric
Email Print Normal font Large font There have been calls to deport Grand Mufti of Australia Tajedine al-Hilali.)
Photo: AP
October 26, 2006 - 10:27AM
Victoria's ethnic community today joined a growing chorus of groups condemning comments by Australia's top Muslim cleric blaming women for inciting sexual assault.
The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria said the comments by Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali were inappropriate and did not reflect the views of mainstream ethnic communities.
In a Ramadan sermon to 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, Sheik Alhilali blamed women who "sway suggestively" and who wore makeup and no hijab (Islamic scarf) for sexual attacks, The Australian newspaper reported.
"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the 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," he said.
"The uncovered meat is the problem.
"If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."
The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria today slammed the comments.
"These unacceptable comments ... do not reflect the values of ethnic communities or of many mainstream Australian Muslims," said council chairman Phong Nguyen said.
"Cultural diversity and equality between the sexes in Australia means that women are entitled to dress as they choose and should never be judged on their dress choice."
Mr Nguyen said just as Muslim women who chose to wear headscarves should do so without fear of denigration, so should women who dressed in other ways.
"The standard of someone's dress should never be used to justify rape, which is a criminal offence," he said.
"These comments should not be seen as reflecting the views of mainstream ethnic communities."
AAP
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