Cleric Won't Quit?

Prove it and I will stand down, says the sheikh

CONTROVERSIAL Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali has given the first indication he would be prepared to stand down as mufti, as the Victorian and NSW premiers called for his dismissal. The sheikh said yesterday that if a meeting of leading Muslim clerics, due to take place in Sydney today or tomorrow, could prove that his sermon intended to degrade women, he would step down. In a Ramadan sermon, the spiritual leader of Australia's 300,000 Muslims claimed that women invited rape by parading as "uncovered meat".

I suppose it hasn't occurred to this pig that comparing women to "uncovered meat" DOES degrade women.

"Enough is enough with these extremist views," Mr Iemma said. "On the one hand, everyone is working to ensure harmony in our community "… and you have these extremist views constantly being perpetrated. It's just not on, and it is time for him to go."

Good for Mr. Iemma! There is some hope!

The sheikh has argued that the comments in his sermon -— delivered in Arabic -— have been misinterpreted. Yesterday he said it was too late for him to learn English, and he thought it was unnecessary because most of his constituents spoke Arabic. Many sermons were delivered in foreign languages such as Arabic, Greek and Italian in churches across the country without criticism, he said.Meanwhile, federal Treasurer Peter Costello urged Muslims to accept the separation of church and state in Australia. Mr Costello told The Sunday Age that "if Muslims won't accept the separation of church and state, we have a major problem. And this is precisely what Sheikh Hilali is arguing now." Mr Costello said he remained horrified by the sheikh's comments. "He's arguing that if women aren't wearing the veil, this should be some kind of defence for rape."

From what I understand, Muslims can't separate "church and state". It's a major part of who they are, so if you're going to invite them in, you're going to have problems. And for anyone who cares, I am NOT putting on a veil, of any sort!