| KISS bassist offends Aussie Muslims The lizard-tongued rock star who is touring Australia with the world's most enduring glam rock band launched an attack on Muslim extremists during an interview on a Melbourne radio station. "Extremism believes that it's okay to strap bombs on to your children and send them to paradise and whatever else and to behead people," he said. The Israeli-born US musician went on to say Islam was a "vile culture" that treated women worse than dogs. Muslim women had to walk behind their men and were not allowed to be educated or own houses, he said. Simmons went on to say the West was under threat. "They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil," he said. Simmons said the United Nations approach did not work and the West had to "speak softly and carry a big stick". The radio station fielded calls from Muslims upset at the comments, including Australian Muslim of the Year Susan Carland, who said Australian Muslims rejected extremism and did not fit Simmons' stereotype. Carland said she had two degrees, was doing her honours and "certainly do not walk behind my husband". Chairman of the Islamic Council of Victoria Yasser Soliman said Simmons' comments were "very unfortunate". "He's
very famous obviously and popular and, as a result, influential," he said.
"Mixing the entertainment world with the political and religious world is
a minefield." - Bernama From: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2004&dt= |