cleric says ok to hit wives

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24945652-5001021,00.html


Cleric: Rape, beating OK for wives

By Mark Dunn
January 22, 2009 12:00am

AN AUSTRALIAN Islamic cleric has told his male followers it is permissable that they force their wives to have sex and hit them if they are disobedient.

Melbourne's self-styled cleric Samir Abu Hamza said despite Australian rape laws it was impossible for a man to rape his wife even if she refused to have sex with him.

In a recorded lecture entitled "The Keys to a Successful Marriage'', delivered to his male worshippers but now broadcast on the internet and viewed by several thousand people, Hamza said Islamic law allowed men to hit their wives as a last resort but they were not to make them bleed or become bruised.

Remember Sheik Hilaly? Women are like 'uncovered meat'.

He said under Islamic law, as described in a Koranic verse, it was a man's right to demand sex from his wife whenever he felt like it.

"If the husband was to ask her for a sexual relationship and she is preparing the bread on the stove she must leave it and come and respond to her husband, she must respond,'' Hamza told his male followers on the video sermon.

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He then mocked Australia's criminal laws which required consent for sex to be lawful.

"In this country if the husband wants to sleep with his wife and she does not want to and she hasn't got a sickness or whatever, there is nothing wrong with her she just does not feel like it, and he ends up sleeping with her by force ... it is known to be as rape.

"Amazing, how can a person rape his wife?'' Hamza asked.

In the contradictory sermon, delivered in Melbourne or Sydney about 2003 but posted late last year, Hamza initially instructs his listeners "don't hit your wife.''

But he goes on to say exactly how men should hit their wives, according to his interpretation of Islamic teachings.

He said Islam cursed "those people who hit the animal on the face, (but) what about hitting your wife?''

"First of all advise them,'' he said.

"You beat them ... but this is the last resort.

"After you have advised them (not to be disobedient) for a long, long time then you smack them, you beat them and please brothers, calm down, the beating the Mohammed showed is like the tooth brush that you use to brush your teeth.

"You are not allowed to bruise them, you are not allowed to make them bleed.''

Hamza told his followers not to get carried away and become too physical with the beatings.

"This is just to shape them up, shape up woman - that is about it.

"You don't go and grab a broom stick and say that is what Allah has said,'' Hamza said to sporadic laughter from his flock.

Hamza runs the Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia on Sydney Rd, Coburg, which offers spiritual advice, prayer facilities and boxing, karate and gym classes for Muslims.

He said a woman who sought to divorce her husband for no valid reason would not be rewarded with paradise after death.

"A woman who asks her husband for divorce for no reason (under Islamic law) ... she will not smell the fragrance of paradise.''

Despite concerns about his preachings being raised by female members of the Islamic community, Hamza yesterday stood by his comments and blamed controversy caused by them on a hidden zionist agenda run by the media.

Questioned about his teachings, Hamza said a wife was allowed to be hit on the hand or leg, but "of course, not on the head''.

He said if a Muslim wife disobeyed her husband, such as continuing to go out when requested not to, she was able to be subjected to moderate physical punishment.

"It's like sometimes when a person smacks a child, it's like `shape up','' he said yesterday.

Hamza also reiterated his belief that women should submit to sex when husbands required it.

Asked whether it was impossible for a man to rape his wife under Islamic law, Hamza said either male or female partners should be able to demand and receive sex.

"If a man wants to sleep with his wife and his wife does not want to for no reason, for no sickness - or vice versa, if she wants to (have sex with her husband) - then yes.

"Obviously Islam allows this as a duty, as part of marriage.''

Although he said he could not recall exactly when he gave the lecture, Hamza said it was to followers in Sydney several years ago and had only been posted on the internet in recent months.

He said he would not make further comment on it.

"Don't call me, don't bother me and please don't call me ever again.''

Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria executive director Joumanah El Matrah said Hamza's interpretation was bigoted.

"It is clear from hearing Abu Hamza's lecture that he sees womens' humanity as second to that of men's and appears to interpret the faith for the interests of men - not Muslims as a community,'' she said.

"Abu Hamza's interpretation of this Koranic verse (on beatings) is no longer an accepted interpretation of the verse.

"It is considered an inappropriate and regressive interpretation and is out of sink with Muslim views, especially scholarship.

"Even orthodox practitioners and Imams do not consider any form of family violence acceptable.

"It is precisely these sorts of inappropriate teachings that lead to violence and cause harm to women, children and cause family breakdowns.''

Islamic Council of Victoria vice president Sherene Hassan said Islam did not condone domestic violence.

"The Prophet Mohammed stated `The best of you is he who is kindest to his wife','' Ms Hassan said.

"The ICV is deeply concerned that there are individuals who may interpret this lecture as condoning violence against women.

"The ICV has made a commitment to address this issue by organising a series of workshops early this year where Imams and Muslim women will be invited to discuss topics such as these together, and workshop solutions both parties feel reflect their rights and religious values.''