Islamic court, United Arab Emirates: OK to beat wife and kids if no marks left

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Islamic court: OK to beat wife if no marks left

Man in United Arab Emirates was initially fined $136 for hitting spouse, daughter

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39718046/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

A man can beat his wife and kids as long as he leaves no physical marks, the United Arab Emirates' highest court has found.

The judgment came after a man slapped his wife and kicked and slapped his daughter, according to Abu Dhabi's The National newspaper.

In the case debated by the Federal Supreme court, the daughter was bruised on the hand and knee, while the wife's lip and teeth were injured.

According to the court, the injuries showed that the man had over-stepped his rights under Shariah, or Islamic law, the newspaper reported. He had originally been fined 500 United Arab Emirates dirhams ($136), but appealed the case twice.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Do any non-Islamic courts currently allow this? nt

[uppityperson]

7. Legally here in USA it's assault or DV, but there is lots of pretending it didn't happen, ignoring

complaints until the bruising/breaks are noticeable.

[sufrommich]

8. In the courts?There may be a lot of denial on a personal

level, but once it gets to the courts, it's a serious offense.

[uppityperson]

10. "once it gets to the courts" is the problem. Getting there can be difficult, making it

essential approved of since there isn't an aftermath. However, it is getting better than it was yrs back.

[ZombieHorde]

11. So, no? nt

[hugo_from_TN]

12. 'No' is correct.

[ensho]

2. this is a good big step forward in their laws

this will help women

make men think before they act

[joeybee12]

3. Immediately afterwards, the court handed out sacks of oranges to all men...nt

[clyrc]

4. I read this today and I've been ranting ever since

My daughter got an earful and a half over this, then my other daughter, my husband and my friend got some, too. In my paper, (The National, based in Abu Dhabi) they called it a domestic discipline ruling, instead of the domestic abuse ruling it actually is. Interestingly enough, on the campus where I live in the UAE, it is against the rules for anyone to hit anyone else, or even yell at anyone, children included. I don't know how these rules would be enforced, but I am glad that the university made the effort to make it against the rules.

As happens every time the UAE does something infuriating, I am glad this kind of thing is getting worldwide attention. I'm hoping that eventually the UAE will be embarrassed enough by obvious human rights abuses that things will change.

[sakabatou]

5. You see people, this is what life would be like if we were a theocracy

Get that, fundies?

[uppityperson]

6. Rtaher Old testamenty, where what they are replacing was so much worse.

You can't leave marks vs ok to kill them. An improvement but so so so far left to go.

[mmonk]

9. That would be called enhanced interrogation techniques here.