That old and rightly discredited canard about rape victims is being recirculated by the most senior Muslim cleric in Australia. Richard Kerbaj reports for The Australian:

THE nation's most senior Muslim cleric has blamed immodestly dressed women who don't wear Islamic headdress for being preyed on by men and likened them to abandoned "meat" that attracts voracious animals.

In a Ramadan sermon that has outraged Muslim women leaders, Sydney—based Sheik Taj Din al—Hilali also alluded to the infamous Sydney gang rapes, suggesting the attackers were not entirely to blame.

While not specifically referring to the rapes, brutal attacks on four women for which a group of young Lebanese men received long jail sentences, Sheik Hilali said there were women who "sway suggestively" and wore make—up and immodest dress ... "and then you get a judge without mercy (rahma) and gives you 65 years".

"But the problem, but the problem all began with who?" he asked.

I have a pretty good idea where the problem starts, actually. This is a barbaric attitude, espoused by a very prominent religious leader of the ummah. I look forward to our good friends at CAIR taking a position on this. If they refuse to do so, it will speak volumes. If anyone discovers them doing so, please email me.

Thomas Lifson  10 26 06