France expels 'pro-assault' imam

BBC ^ | April 20, 2004

[NYer]

France's interior ministry has ordered the expulsion of a Muslim cleric who advocated the beating of women.

Algerian-born Abdelkader Bouziane, an imam in eastern Lyon, told a magazine that the Koran authorised the beating and stoning of adulterous wives.

Mr Bouziane also expressed hopes that "the entire world becomes Muslim".

The remarks caused an immediate outcry in France, which hosts Europe's largest Muslim community - about five million people, mainly of north African origin.

Muslim leaders in France also condemned the imam's remarks, saying Islam did not condone domestic violence.

The government will not tolerate public comments... which attack human dignity and in particular the dignity of women

Interior ministry statement

However, the leader of France's National Council of Muslims warned the French media not to seek to portray all Muslims in the West as fundamentalists, or to stir up anti-Islamic sentiment by seeking out extremist opinion.

Abdelkader Bouziane has become the second imam this month to face deportation from France.

A Muslim preacher in Brest was deported to Algeria last week after he expressed support for the Madrid bombings, and was accused by the interior ministry of supporting Islamic terrorists.

Swift response

Mr Bouziane was prayer leader in Venissieux, near Lyon, and has lived in France for the last 25 years.

He was taken into custody on Tuesday, the French interior ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said remarks against human rights, particularly women's rights, could not be tolerated.

The imam told the April issue of Lyon Mag he favoured wife-beating "under certain conditions, especially if the woman cheats on her husband".

He then went on national television to clarify his comments.

He said he had not advocated hitting women on the face, but insisted that the Koran did authorise husbands to beat their wives if they had been unfaithful.

He was also quoted as saying he favoured an Islamic republic in France.

"But not just for France. I want the whole world to become Muslim."

An expulsion order had already been issued over his views before the magazine article appeared, and the interview confirmed that the decision was correct, the French interior ministry said.

[Hodar]

I would expect a terrorist attack as retribution.

Then, France will negotiate a surrender with the terrorists.

[American in Israel]

I guess calling for the extermination of Jews is just not enough to warrant a response, but having seen the french women leading their men around by the nose, my guess is they just went too far this time to be "tolerable".

[justrepublican]

WHAT ? No free speech in France?

[fatidic]

The Koran does allow a husband to beat his wife and those Muslims who deny this are practicing deception, also allowed by the Koran to defend their religion from ridicule.

[AmericanVictory]

Such a wonderful culture to have such aspirations! How is it that so many can be so receptive to so little truth?

[rrrod]

Good muslims just KNOW that beating women is a wonderful thing.

[isom35]

Imam, isnt she married to David Bowie? plus she was in a star trek movie. no. VI I think.

[beachn4fun]

And, this is exactly why the Koran and Muslims have lost the sympathy of many in the world. GOD forbid that the "whole world" becomes Muslim!

[rrrod]

I see you are new to FR...keep reading post here ..i do not have the passage

[xJones]

It's good to Google search. Here's one entry from searching on Quran,wife beating: Muslim clerics preach 'wife beating'.

[xJones]

France's interior ministry has ordered the expulsion of a Muslim cleric who advocated the beating of women.

I'll bet his family reunions in Algeria are a lot of fun: "Now that dinner is over and the goat wasn't cooked well enough, the beatings may begin!"

[justshutupandtakeit]

If he were married to Barbra Steisand I would have to agree with him. But only if she opened her mouth and words came out.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It is much worse than a beating there are numerous incidents of teenaged daughters being killed by their fathers or brothers for having "dishonored" the family through adultery or FLIRTING. There was a particularly horrendous case in St. Louis here a few years back.

This is a barbarous religion without one redeeming virtue. If you are familiar with the Koran it should be obvious that it is second-rate compared to almost any other religion and certainly cannot compare with the beauty and profundity of the Bible. If you are not familiar with it, I suggest reading it and take it to heart since it is extremely dangerous.

[EricT.]

Them's purty big werds fer a yung'un. Didya copy them outta yer SocialStudies textbook?

[Bonaparte]

The french are notorious wife-beaters themselves, so the sticking point must be the part about adultery, their national pastime, being wrong.

[Ashamed Canadian]

LOL!

[PsyOp]

Now they need to follow up by kicking his followers out of the country.

Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....