Thursday, January 22, 2009

A Muslim cleric in Australia who said men have a right to force their wives to have sex has been told to apologize by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

The cleric, Samir Abu Hamza, reportedly questioned how rape can exist within marriage, and encouraged "light beating" of disobedient women. "I would call upon this Islamic cleric to publicly apologize and repudiate his remarks," Mr Rudd said. He told reporters that such views have no place in Australia. "Under no circumstances is sexual violence permissible or acceptable in Australia," he said. Samir Abu Hamza runs the Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia and, according to local media, is a self-taught cleric, popular with young Muslims in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

Related:

Islamic cleric advises worshippers to rape and beat wives

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