Women 'exposed as a piece of sweet pastry' writes Grand Mufti
A book written by Australia's Grand Mufti more than 20 years ago reportedly described non-Muslims as wanting women to walk around "exposed as a piece of sweet pastry... devoured by the eyes of men".
The Daily Mail published excerpts from Ibrahim Abu Mohamed's religious text An Invitation to Contemplate that contained the passage.
Dr Mohamed reportedly wrote that while Islam wanted women to be a "companion, who is beautiful, compassionate and good", non-Muslims wanted them to be a "girlfriend or a mistress, a tool for pleasure for a cheap price".
In the book translated into English in 1993 Dr Mohamed also wrote "Islam wanted you beautiful on the outside, and clean on the outside, and clean on the inside, not preoccupied with meaningless exteriors, not subservient in your opinion and choice to any, independent of though, making sound decisions and of free will".
"They wanted you... with legs and arms exposed, filling the shopping malls and the streets, competing for the glimpses of men."
Dr Mohamed was criticised this week for his comments following the Paris terrorist attacks that killed more than 120 people.
He said part of the causes of the attacks were racism and Islamophobia around the world.
The Daily Mail quoted one of the book's English translators, Keysar Trad, saying it was a "fairly literal" translation.
"Islam promotes modesty for both men and women. From time to time, we use a variety of linguistic tools to glorify modesty," he said.
News break – November 20
