The main message in so-called "Muslim cleric" and street preacher Al-Haashim Kamena Atangana's tirade against provocatively-dressed women, is what it says of Muslim men.

Not all Muslim men, of course, but of Muslim men who think as he does.

It's really not much of a story, but is a popular one among men who believe they are superior to women, or that it is women's fault if men are tempted to rape or sexually assault them. Atangana's theme is widespread among those who revere the Taliban, or want Sharia law in Western countries.

And it has echoes in Western society where some believe scantly-clad women are an invitation to rape -- women shouldn't "dress like sluts," according to one over-enthusiastic cop's formula for avoiding rape.

The "slut" remark still reverberates throughout the world, as people take exception to the wording and relish mocking the ill-chosen words, if not the sentiment behind the words. In a free and orderly society, anyone should be able to dress however they want without risking assault.

According to the foolish Atangana, "the reason why a woman gets raped is because of the way she dresses." If that were the case, one would assume women shrouded head-to-toe in burkas would be safe from males whom Atangana seems to think lose all control of their libidos if they catch sight of a seemly ankle or, heaven forbid, an unmasked female face.

While Atanagana's view of the world is insulting to women, it's far more insulting to men, if you think about it. Apparently to him, men are such lustful creatures that they can't govern themselves if they spot a short skirt. He would favor a law requiring women to wear long robes that cover all parts of skin, thus preserving the integrity of men.

We all know that ain't going to happen, but presumably Atangana speaks for others who are offended by Western culture which, to them, verges on blasphemy and depravity. One wonders why people who feel this strongly bother emigrating to a country like ours, or why home-grown people convert to a religion that despises aspects of our cultural mores.

In the Sun, Farzana Hassan refutes Atangana's ignorant implication that rape doesn't occur in Islamic countries. It just isn't reported as frequently -- or isn't considered rape if forced on wives who have no rights of consent or rejection. Under Sharia law, consent is irrelevant.

Hassan notes that rapes occur "with equal if not greater frequency and ferocity in the Middle East and Asia." Marriage with under-age girls "who are not old enough to give consent or even understand the concept" are common in some countries, but would be regarded as rape in Western countries.

Apparently Atanagana converted to Islam a dozen years ago, because he found the Christian concept of Father, Son and Holy Spirit "too confusing."

One supposes the simplicity of Sharia law is more understandable for him -- lopping off the hands of the thieves, stoning women to death for adultery, killing, converting or exacting a toll from infidels, death for those Muslim-born who seek to convert to another religion.

That's extremism for you -- as well as any law that requires women to be covered head-to-toe to not let anyone see a flash of skin.