World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Melbourne imam apologises for sermon endorsing violence against wives
Melbourne imam Samir Mohtadi apologised after a sermon from 2003 resurfaced online.
In it, he said husbands could beat their wives as a last resort, provided they did not cause bruises or bleeding.
He also questioned whether a husband could rape his wife and said wives should agree to sex when their husbands asked.
The sermon had drawn attention before, including in 2009, when then-prime minister Kevin Rudd condemned the comments and said sexual violence was never acceptable.
Mohtadi said he opposed all forms of violence, called family violence a crime and apologised for his past remarks.
The old recording remains online, and no further action is described.
Melbourne imam Samir Mohtadi apologised for a sermon in which he said husbands could beat their wives as a last resort.
The sermon, titled “The Keys to a Successful Marriage”, was delivered in 2003 and resurfaced online.
Mohtadi said he had consistently opposed family violence and violence against women.
The sermon also questioned Australian laws on rape within marriage.
The footage drew public criticism in 2009, including from then-prime minister Kevin Rudd.
- Who
- Samir Mohtadi, founder and leader of MyCentre mosque in Broadmeadows, Melbourne.
- What
- He apologised for past sermon comments endorsing husbands beating their wives.
- When
- The sermon was delivered in 2003. Mohtadi apologised on Saturday; the article was published on 19 October 2026.
- Where
- The sermon concerned marriage and Australian law. Mohtadi leads MyCentre mosque in Broadmeadows, Melbourne.
- Why
- The old sermon resurfaced online. The article says this happened days after Mohtadi rejected claims of an association between MyCentre and Hamam al-Hammami.
Samir Mohtadi's 2003 sermon
Kevin Rudd and Australian law
Aspect
Samir Mohtadi's 2003 sermon
Mohtadi said a husband could beat his wife as a last resort, provided he did not bruise or make her bleed.
Kevin Rudd and Australian law
Rudd said sexual violence was not permissible or acceptable in Australia.
Aspect
Samir Mohtadi's 2003 sermon
Mohtadi questioned whether a husband could rape his wife.
Kevin Rudd and Australian law
Rudd said Australia would not tolerate such remarks and called on Mohtadi to repudiate them and apologise.
Mohtadi delivered a sermon titled “The Keys to a Successful Marriage”.
The sermon drew public attention, and then-prime minister Kevin Rudd called for Mohtadi to repudiate the comments and apologise.
The sermon was uploaded to YouTube.
Mohtadi issued a statement apologising for his past comments.
- Sermon year
- 2003
- Sermon title
- The Keys to a Successful Marriage
- Imam
- Samir Mohtadi
- Mosque
- MyCentre, Broadmeadows
- Video upload year
- 2013
What people are saying
There is no place for violence against women in our homes and communities.
I sincerely apologise for my past comments.
Under no circumstances is sexual violence permissible or acceptable in Australia.
Australia will not tolerate these sort of remarks. They don't belong in modern Australia, and he should stand up, repudiate them and apologise.