Respect other cultures - yes. Beat wives - no

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I am liberal with a small ‘L’ — that means I do my best to consider cultural viewpoints other than my own, that I attempt to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

But wife beating? Sorry…

I know that a woman just got off in Scotland for putting dog poo in her husband’s curry (and laughing as he ate it), but ‘wife bashing’ is a ’step too far’.

Not so, apparently, in Saudi Arabia.

Apparently there is a ‘correct’ way to beat your wife.

“Admonish them – once, twice, three times, four times, ten times,” Saudi author and cleric, “Dr.” Muhammad Al-’Arifi advised on Saudi television recently.

“If this doesn’t help, refuse to share their beds.”

And if that doesn’t work?

“Beat them,” one of his three young advisees responded.

“That’s right,” Al-’Arifi said.

“He must beat her where it will not leave marks. He should not beat her on the hand… He should beat her in some places where it will not cause any damage. He should not beat her like he would beat an animal or a child — slapping them right and left.”

Oh, so that’s alright then.

Watch the entire moment as it appeared on Saudi television. Astonishing.

Tagged as: ethics