THE MUSLIM CLERIC

It seems it was Bush’s fault that the Australian Muslim cleric has those primitive beliefs.

Australia's most prominent Islamic cleric, widely condemned for suggesting that women who don't wear head scarves invite rape, implied Friday he would not resign as long as the White House continues to influence the world.

Also, what he said were not his words:

Al-Hilali has said his comments were misinterpreted, and a translation showed he was quoting an ancient Islamic scholar, echoing a controversy that erupted last month when Pope Benedict XVI outraged Muslims with a speech in which he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who linked Islam and violence.

And, besides, people shouldn’t listen to him.

"He says he's just a frail old cleric, not the president of the United States, and the media should not be so pedantic about his words," Trad said.

And then the Muslim leader clarified his remarks:

"The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred," he was quoted as saying, referring to the head scarf worn by some Muslim women.

He explained Islamic law:

al-Hilali quoted the scholar as saying that he would imprison a woman for life if she were raped.
"Why would you do this, Rafihi? He says because if she had not left the meat uncovered, the cat wouldn't have snatched it," al-Hilali told worshippers in Arabic, citing the scholar's writing.

In his defense he says:

The metaphor I used of the "exposed meat" was not appropriate for the western mentality. It has been quoted and misinterpreted by some groups with ill intentions. This metaphor was used in a private lesson given inside the mosque after the Taraweeh (optional night) prayers on the fourth day of Ramadan. It was meant for the Muslim attendees at the mosque and not the general public and particularly not the general women of our Australian society.

Oh. Now I understand. That explains everything. He didn’t know that what he said wouldn’t be a secret. We people with “Western Mentality” aren’t sophisticated enough to understand the depth of Islam.

I wonder if we shall ever learn.