Yesterday we noted the story of influential Malaysian cleric Abu Hassan Al-Hafiz, who suggested that women need to wear chastity belts.

Here’s an update, as the cleric now says he was only joking.

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.”

Abu Hassan’s Dark Ages chastity belt brainstorm didn’t go over well with Malaysian women’s groups.

“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.