Sheikh Hilali

Three letters to think about regarding recent comments by Sheikh Hilali:

If Sheik Hilaly is saying that men are little better than animals, have no control over their basic urges and are at risk of violating others, surely it is they who should stay at home in their rooms.

Gillian Whalley Marrickville

Why he must go

DEAR Sheikh Hilali. As a young Muslim woman, I have had to deal with the ubiquitous news reports that misquote Islam. I avoid trying to "make people understand" because I find reassurance in the belief that negative comments come from those who do not understand Islam. However, I am deeply angered by your views, on one level because they are out of touch with even the most Neanderthal society; on another because they come from a man holding a high position. How sad that you used your platform to preach these ideas. How useless that you hid behind the Arabic language and used a translator to give a different meaning to your words. Those who speak Arabic cringed at this disgusting ploy. Muslims face enough discrimination and misunderstanding. They need positive role models. You are not such a leader, and must resign immediately.
Fatima Abdullatif, Balwyn North

Rape's sad facts

SHEIKH Hilali, I recently completed a subject, Crime and Gender, as part of my law degree. It taught me that most people in Australia agree with you about rape. Even "free" Western democracies blame victims for the attacks. This is evident in the statistics (only one in 10 rapes is reported, only 2 per cent of reported rapes result in conviction). Perhaps you don't know that most females who are raped are aged 10 to 24, with most aged under 14. These young girls do not have big breasts in low-cut tops, they are not pieces of meat on display. Rape is a crime of power. Victims are chosen, based not on how attractive they are but on how easy the attack will be. I suggest you don't talk about things you do not understand.
Elizabeth Gharghori, Ferntree Gully