Monday 18 October 2010

FORGET THE FRENCH - THIS TAKES THINGS TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL

The Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates has held that it is OK to beat your spouse/daughter so long as you leave no mark:


A man beat his wife and daughter, but the Court held that the wife was beaten too hard and the daughter (23) was too old to be beaten.


The Chief Justice (Falah al-Hajeri) apparently said:


"Although the [law] permits the husband to use his right [to discipline], he has to abide by the limits of this right,"  "If the husband abuses this right to discipline, he cannot be exempted from punishment."


The man was fined $130.  


Recently I complained about the French ban on covering one's face in public.  That form of secular illiberal-ism is intolerable, but pales into insignificance against this religious zealousness expressed as law.  I respect the existence of Islam and Sharia law but cannot respect any culture or religion which sanctions gratuitous and unjustified assault, especially when directed towards one sex alone.  


If the French were to repeal their law targetting Muslim women, would the UAE reciprocate by repealing which ever legal tenet permits women to be beaten?

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