Rape and Muslim clerics in Australia

AAP:

Sydney's Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali prompted a public furore last week by suggesting skimpily dressed women invited sexual attack, comparing them to uncovered meat tempting neighbourhood cats.

Today the Islamic Council of WA's religious adviser, Abdul Jalil Ahmad, also came under fire after saying that while rape was the man's fault, women should take preventative measures to avoid being targeted.

He said it was offensive to compare women to meat but there was a genuine message in Sheik Alhilali's speech.

"The message is, we have to take preventive measures to avoid violence or rape or something like that," Mr Ahmad told ABC Online.

Those measures included covering up and not going out alone, he said.

Mr Carpenter said that commentary showed a complete lack of understanding of modern Australia.

"The sort of commentary we have heard from Sheik Alhilali in Sydney over the last week or so is hopelessly wrong and any commentary that gives any support to that from the Muslim community is very, very unwise," Mr Carpenter told journalists.

"To suggest in any way, in any way shape or form that women promote rape is completely unacceptable and should not be condoned and should not be said.

"To suggest they should not be going out unaccompanied is just totally unacceptable, wrong and does not fit with the standards and expectations of modern Australia or modern anywhere else in the world."

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