Domestic Violence in the U.A.E
Recently, a man from the U.A.E ‘disciplined‘ his wife and daughter-who,by the way is twenty three years old- by abusing them physically. Not a fan of abuse in any form, I considered this news to be absolutely defeating and shocking. Its not everyday you hear such news in this part of the world. Its safely curbed and hidden under the thick blanket of ‘taboo’. The U.A.E supreme court took matters at hand and charged the man with a payable amount. Really? Is that all they are going to do? Apparently yes. They explained that the man of the house has all right to discipline his wife and children except physically abusing them, which is breaching the Sharia Law. Being a Muslim myself, I accept the religious reasons and rules. Sadly, I dont know if this sort of punishment is justifying the pain of all the women that had to suffer due to a man’s dominating presence in Muslim societies. Human Rights Watch researcher Nadya Khalife puts it best:
This ruling … is evidence that the authorities consider violence against women and children to be completely acceptable. Domestic violence should never be tolerated under any circumstances. These provisions are blatantly demeaning to women and pose serious risks to their well-being. The … ruling lets stand a law that is degrading, discriminatory, and outright dangerous for women and children. The UAE needs to come to grips with reality of domestic violence, repeal all discriminatory provisions sanctioning violence against women and children, enact laws that criminalize such behavior, and provide appropriate services to victims.
Via Jurist.
In the name of religion, lets not abuse our wives, girlfriends and daughters. Lets save humanity and spread peace.
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No violence means bursts of violence. Limited conditional violence provides a not quite harmful outlet, see violence rates in Europe and US. Read the article carefully, he was condemned for abusing such a right, and not following the limits specified.
Don’t be swept away with the waves of subjective criticism, that consider their opinions ultimate truths.
Any sort of violence, whether limited or exaggerated, is unaccepted. The violence rates in USA and Europe might be high and in news,because there are educated people out there who understand exactly what is known as ‘Domestic Abuse’ and have non-profit organisations to protect such women. Sadly in the Gulf, people are highly unaware of what constitutes Domestic Violence,and assume physical abuse is the only form of violence. Also, we dont really have the most liberal press system, so such news is obviously tucked away in the darkness. The law here allows the man of the house to dominate, intimidate, control and be possessive. But all across the world(especially in western countries, where people are quite open about such facts), such behavior from a man(or even a woman) is simply considered wrong and unacceptable. Its also funny a man is ‘expected’ to behave in a dominate manner towards his wife, but if the wife does the same, she’s shunned and frowned upon? Respect is a huge part of any relationship, lets not take that away.
With all due respect, your comments imply you live in the Gulf, but don’t live there at the same time.
QUOTE: “Any sort of violence, whether limited or exaggerated, is unaccepted.”
Says who? God says: وَاللَّاتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا
which shows that there is a certain type of violence that is acceptable (within the boundaries detailed from the Sunnah of course).
Second, I do not defend any acts of abuse that occur in the Gulf or any other part of the world, but my reference is Islamic law, not Western, except when it coincides with Islam. Nor do I defend psychological abuse.
Third: QUOTE: “The law here allows the man of the house to dominate, intimidate, control and be possessive.”
In Islam, the man, especially the husband, is the leader in the household, but that does not entail that he’s allowed to “intimidate, control, and be possessive” of his household. To the contrary they are to be treated with care and respect, but the man remains the leader, as every institution needs a leader, including the family.
I’m afraid you might need to refresh you information on Islamic law, and see your community through your own eyes. You act as if women in the Gulf live as if they are in a compound or imprisoned and in fear, which is absolutely false; though I do not deny there are cases of abuse, as everywhere in the world; and I might even say there might be a bit more.
Finally, we do not search for what constitutes “Domestic Violence” from the West, or from anywhere else for that matter; though we might compare it with what we have in Islam and take only what does not disagree, and add what it misses from our religion; the reference being Islam before and after. Any amendments to women law, should there be need, then to agree more with Islamic rights, without regards whether other laws agree or not.