Rock star gives Islam kiss-off

2004-05-14 11:27

Melbourne, Australia - Australia's Muslim community reacted with outrage Friday following an attack on Islam by rock star Gene Simmons, front man of the American band KISS, who are currently touring Australia.

In an interview with the Melbourne radio station 3AW on Thursday, he described Islam as a "vile culture" which he said treated women worse than dogs, forcing them to walk behind their men and forbidding them to be educated or to own property.

"Your dog, however, can walk side by side, your dog is allowed to have its own dog house... you can send your dog to school to learn tricks, sit, beg, do all that stuff," he said.

"None of the women have that advantage," added Simmons, who has famously boasted of sleeping with more than 4 600 women.

The Israeli-born bass guitarist went on to say the west was under threat from Islamic terrorists.

"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.

"This is a vile culture and if you think for a second that it's going to just live in the sands of God's armpit you've got another thing coming.

They think you're evil

"They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil."

Simmons said the United Nations approach did not work and the west had to "speak softly and carry a big stick".

The radio station was inundated on Friday with 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's stereotype.

Carland said she had two degrees, and "I certainly do not walk behind my husband," she said.

Chair of the Islamic Council of Victoria Yasser Soliman said Simmons's comments were "very unfortunate".

It's a minefield

"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."

He said Simmons had begun by talking about extremists but had gone on to vilify the entire Muslim culture.

"A number of his claims regarding women and what they are allowed to do and not do are wrong - Islam teaches the opposite," he said.

He said Simmons had a right to free speech, but this had to be balanced against the damage done to innocent people.

"I think it would be good for overseas speakers and commentators to be given some sort of advice in regards to our vilification laws here," he said.

"They leave and go back to where they arrived from, but they leave behind a big mess that we have to live with."

- AFP