Al-Hilali, Australia's top Islamic cleric, who sparked outrage with recent
comments during a sermon saying that immodestly dressed women invite rape,
fainted Monday, October 30, 2006 and was taken to a hospital by ambulance,
police said.
In a statement, Al-Hilali said he was temporarily giving up his duties at
Australia's largest mosque and acknowledged that the "uncovered meat" analogy
was a mistake.
"I confess that this analogy is inappropriate and unacceptable for the
Australian society and the Western society in general," he said.
Al-Hilali has rejected calls for his resignation since a newspaper reported
last week that he compared women who do not wear head scarves to "uncovered
meat" in a sermon at Lakemba mosque in Sydney.
But he said he had a duty to advise Muslim women to adhere to the strict
Islamic dress code and that his comments, apparently secretly tape recorded by
a critic, was not intended for the general Australian public.
"I am deeply saddened and distressed by the acts of some devious groups which
lurk in the dark watching me and who cannot tolerate the moderate, balanced way
which I adopt to advocate for women's issues, national harmony and
coexistence," he said, without identifying the groups.
Al-Hilali described women as "cherished pearls" and rape of a woman an
"abominable crime" that had no justification.
The intense pressure on Al-Hilali to resign heightened Monday when a national
newspaper reported that he had recently used an interview on Arabic radio to
endorse militants in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.
Prime Minister John Howard said the man who holds the title of mufti of
Australia, the most senior cleric in the nation, might have broken
counterterrorism laws which prohibit incitement of violence against Australian
soldiers deployed overseas.
Australia, a staunch ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, has troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Howard warned Australia's 300,000 Muslims that al-Hilali's continuing
leadership would damage their reputation among their 20 million fellow
Australians, who are predominantly Christian.
Female Muslims have been among the most vocal in calling for the cleric's
resignation over references in his sermon to women being soldiers of Satan who
were responsible for 90 percent of adultery.
"In due course, I will take the necessary decision that will lift the pressures
that have been placed on our Australian Muslim community and that which will
benefit all Australians," said al-Hilali, who has survived four strokes and
recently underwent double heart bypass surgery. He didn't elaborate.
