Vic: Wife beating call was metaphoric says cleric
23 Jan 2009 2:33 AM
Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD and Islamic leaders have condemned a Melbourne Muslim cleric who told followers it's permissible to hit their wives and force them to have sex.
But Coburg mosque cleric SAMIR ABU HAMZA has told a confidant his message has been taken out of context .. and that he was referring to hitting wives in a metaphorical sense.
Mr RUDD says Mr HAMZA'S comments have no place in modern Australia .. and under no circumstances is sexual violence permissible or acceptable in Australia.
The President of the Islamic Council of Victoria .. RAMZI ELSAYED .. says he's spoken with Mr HAMZA about his views .. who told him he had been speaking in a metaphorical sense .. and said he doesn't support hitting one's wife.
He also says Islam does NOT condone making a wife have sex with her husband against her will.
