http://www.nst.com.my/Current _News/nst/Saturday/National /20070217094142/Article/index _html

'Let men wear chastity belts, instead'
17 Feb 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: A day after creating an uproar among women across the country, a well-respected Islamic religious figure said that his comments on chastity belts for women was just a joke.

"Joke aje . It was not seriously meant," said Datuk Abu Hassan Din Al-Hafiz yesterday.

Newspapers had carried reports yesterday that Abu Hassan, a well known ulama, had said women should wear chastity belts to thwart rape and incest and "to protect themselves from sex maniacs".

At a Maal Hijrah forum in Kampung Pelandan, Hulu Terengganu, Abu Hassan had told the audience that "the best way for women to avert sex perpetrators is to wear protection".

He also said that while his intention was not to offend women, by wearing chastity belts, husbands could also feel more secure, adding "if you know what I mean".

However, he changed his tune yesterday and said his comments at the forum were not meant to be a suggestion.

"It's not practical to wear a chastity belt in this day and age. It can't be done."

In an immediate response to yesterday's news reports, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said the government was not interested in an idea from the pre-Islamic age of "jahiliyah" (ignorance).

She said it was more important for Muslims to have a stronger faith.

"It is better to have a steel-like iman (faith) rather than wearing the belt. If a person is bent on doing it (rape), he would find a way to do it even if one's whole body is covered with metal," she said.

Jemaah Islah Malaysia chief Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj said it was an insensitive suggestion.

"The comment was very much outdated. We have to change the mindset that any violence against women is caused by women themselves."

She also hoped Abu Hassan would withdraw his statement and apologise to the public.

Malacca Islamic religious department enforcement head Rahimin Bani said wearing chastity belts to prevent rape was not the right way.

"If the rapist already has the intention to do it, he will do whatever it takes to do it."

Such a comment seems to imply that women want to permit the rape and therefore have to be constrained, said Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism vice-president Harcharan Singh.

"Why blame the women?" he asked.

Women's organisations also felt Abu Hassan had indirectly insulted the male gender.

"His comment gives an impression that all men are beasts of passion," said Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah.

Such sexist comments from influential leaders shows the need for gender desensitisation programmes, she added.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) concurred with Josiah on Abu Hassan's insult to men.

"We hope he realises that he is definitely insulting all men by suggesting women have to be restrained because men are incapable of controlling their lust," SIS said in a Press statement.

"Why don't these people suggest instead that the men wear chastity belts?" asked National Council of Women's Organisation president Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahbudin.