Relax It Was Only Colorful Language

While many Muslims and non-Muslims are denouncing recent comments by a Muslim Sheik:

Two points: if the Sheik’s meat-themed speeches don’t translate well to English, perhaps he should learn the language; and Trad’s linkage of rape to merely behaving “in a sexual way” is stunning. So, let’s work through the Sheik’s speech, as translated by SBS:

It seems the Chairman of the Aussie PM's Muslim advisory is defending him for his use of colorful language in remarks similar to those of the Pope.

Sheik Hilali did win some support from the chairman of the Prime Minister's Muslim advisory council, Ameer Ali, who compared his contentious remarks to the Pope's comments on Islam.

"He's our spiritual leader and nobody is more knowledgeable about Islam," said Dr Ali, an economics lecturer at Murdoch University in Perth.

"A few months ago, the Pope said some things about Islam, and he was criticised, and now we have a few things being said here, and it's been taken out of context. But all this talk about having the mufti deported, I mean, come on, they cannot be serious.

"Knowing the mufti, I would say he was using colourful language, the way he sometimes does, and it's unfortunate."