Outrage over cleric146;s veil remarks

In Australia, there was widespread condemnation of the cleric8217;s comments, from other Muslim leaders, civil libertarians and political leaders.

Hilali was quoted in an Australian newspaper as saying in the sermon: 8220;If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside 8230; without cover, and the cats come to eat it 8230; whose fault is it, the cats8217; or the uncovered meat8217;s?8221;

8220;The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred,8221; he was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister John Howard described the comments as 8220;appalling and reprehensible.8221;