New South Wales legislative council member Reverend Fred Nile stands outside the enterance of the state parliament house in Sydney on November 22, 2002. Nile's call for a ban on Muslim women wearing a traditional head-to-knee gown in public because t
In PHOTO: New South Wales legislative council member Reverend Fred Nile stands outside the enterance of the state parliament house in Sydney on November 22, 2002. Nile's call for a ban on Muslim women wearing a traditional head-to-knee gown in public because they could be used to conceal weapons has sparked outrage in Australia. Reuters/Tim Wimborne

Reverend Fred Nile has once again criticised the male hostage victims of the Sydney Siege. The New South Wales MP said that the only man who was present at the Lindt Chocolate Café during the tragic event was gunman Man Haron Monis.

Nile recently provoked heated debate after claiming the male victims who escaped during the Sydney Siege should not be honoured with bravery awards. There were also women who managed to flee the scene, but Nile directed his criticism of the men, saying they should have stayed and protected the women.

Sydney Siege Male Hostages Who Fled Scene Not Worthy of Bravery Awards, NSW MP Fred Nile Says

On Thursday, the 80-year-old Christian Democratic Party leader has once again took aim at the surviving men. He appeared in “Sunrise” on Channel Seven to give his thoughts on the tragic event, which took place for over 16 hours on December 15 to 16.

“It was very traumatic. We saw Katrina Dawson holding up the flag and tears running down her face. She was obviously traumatised by that situation,” he said, referring to the barrister who was killed along with café manager Tori Johnson during the final standoff between Monis and the police.

“Well, where were the men? The only man really there was the man with the gun.”

His controversial comments incited anger online, with social media users blasting Nile for harshly judging the male victims during extremely traumatising times.

@sunriseon7 @frednile easy to have balls when miles away from the end of the barrel, Nile you are a spineless prat!!

— Steve Jeffs (@dopeypicckle) January 14, 2015

@frednile @sunriseon7 you are a sad stupid fool who doesn't have any feelings for your fellow men or wonen. Shame on you. You are so hateful — Lindsay Morgan (@lindsaykmorgan1) January 14, 2015

@sunriseon7 @frednile why does "sunrise "give this outdated homophobic oxygen thief a chance to air his inconsiderate offensive views !!

— Dean Hubbard (@oldtridude62) January 15, 2015

NSW MP Alex Greenwich also slams his co-politician, saying Nile has offended the Christian values by cruelly insulting the victims and using the tragedy ahead of election.

Fred Nile "the only man inside the Lindt Cafe siege at Martin Place was the man holding the gun" - He should resign for this comment #nswpol — Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) January 14, 2015

.@frednile judging traumatised victims in the way you have, without any facts, is a new low, even for you

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) January 14, 2015

However, Nile quickly backtracked, and claimed that he just “misspoke.” He told the Daily Mail Australia that he had inadvertently left the word “cowardly” out and he was not complimenting the gunman, saying what he really meant was that Monis was a “cowardly man.”

@sunriseon7 yes I misspoke. The terrorist was a coward. As I tweeted yesterday, the hero was the man WRESTLING with the gun. #sun7 — Fred Nile (@frednile) January 14, 2015

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