National MP Clarkson targets Muslims and gays

Bob Clarkson

Bob Clarkson will meet Islamic leaders to explain his controversial comments about Muslims - but the unrepentant MP has caused further offence by comparing homosexuality to picking your nose in public.

The outspoken National MP was reported yesterday as saying that Muslims wearing burqas in public should "go back to Islam or Iraq".

With his comments having sparked a furore, Clarkson wasn't apologising last night. But he said he hoped to meet with Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan - who called his comments "ignorant and arrogant" - although he also thought Khan needed to "thicken his skin up a little bit".

"I meant no harm in any shape or form. It's just, I do think they've got to be a little more compromising when they come to somebody else's country. Learn to live with us, don't fight us," Clarkson said.

The Tauranga MP, a non-practising Presbyterian, insisted that he was tolerant of all religions.

"I truly believe what the Bible says, believe it or not, which says that my word will be spread in many ways."

Khan said he would happily meet with Clarkson, as he had with Don Brash after the National leader's recent "bedrock values" comments, although it was of great concern to him that the National Party appeared to be picking on Muslims.

He said that Clarkson was contradicting himself.

"On one hand he's saying he's tolerant of all religions, on the other hand he says 'When you come here, behave the way we behave'. I don't know what he means by that."

Prime Minister Helen Clark said Clarkson's comments were "in line with National's normal prejudice and their attitude towards all minorities".

Clarkson was also reported as saying he had nothing against gays and lesbians unless they tried to "ram it down" his throat.

Elaborating on his stance for the Herald on Sunday, he said he could tolerate homosexuality - even though he found it "unusual" and "not normal" - but he objected to gays promoting their sexuality in public.

"If you walk up and down the street picking your nose, you're a bit different, aren't you? You're going to offend somebody.

"Do it in your home if you want to," he said.

"Take that gay parade. They flaunted themselves out there that they're all different than us, and to a certain extent, in my mind, they're trying to make out that we should be the same as them."

The idea of gay couples being allowed to adopt gave him "the gutsache", and even small-scale displays of homosexuality, such as two men holding hands, made him feel strange.

"You can't convince me that's normal. But I'm not rubbishing them because they might be born like that," he said.

"I'll put it this way: I'm very happy that I was born in 1939 in Gisborne as a male and I've stayed that way all my life."