Muslim men permitted to hit wives in a soft and ‘symbolic’ way, Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia women say

Permission to strike a disobedient wife is “a beautiful blessing”

From the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Mail Australia

In a video discussion posted on the Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia’s Facebook page on April 8, two women from the hardline fringe group said that the permission to strike a disobedient wife was “a beautiful blessing” but it should only be soft and “symbolic”.

The women, western Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche and Indian-born scholar Atika Latifi, also said that Muslim men have slower reaction times and no ability to multi-task but are physically stronger and obliged to be the leader in a marriage.

The 30-minute video aimed to discuss a contentious verse from the Koran that says: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous woman are Qanitat?, and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard. As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, and beat them, but if they return to obedience, do not seek a means against them.”

Ms Latifi said that husbands should exercise their three options in order.

First, he should advise the disobedient wife of the rule of Allah. If that doesn’t work, he should refuse to share the bed with her. If that doesn’t work he is permitted to hit her. Citing two scholars, she said the strike should not cause pain and should be done with an item like a sivaak (a small stick used for cleaning) or a coiled scarf or folded handkerchief.

“It is merely a symbolic act,” she said. “What a beautiful blessing from Allah, that he said not to take all the steps at one time. It is one after the other.”

She said examples of disobedience are acts considered a sin, this means seriously disrespecting Allah or their husbands, disobedience to the husband. Immoral acts or cheating. Admitting anyone to the home that the husband doesn’t like,’ rather than something like forgetting to cook dinner.

Ms Allouche said that Allah gave men certain qualities that best placed them to be the leader of the family unit. Therefore, wives were obliged to be obedient to their husband.

Commissioner Mick Fuller, who lead the police force’s response to domestic violence before his promotion last month, said the law doesn’t distinguish between race or religion. “At a time when police are determined to break the cycle of domestic violence, it’s disturbing to think there are people who will condone it,” he told Fairfax Media on Thursday.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott considered banning Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2015 but said the group always made sure it stopped just short of advocating violence.