Pakistan government's Islamic advisor defends the right to beat woman for refusing sex
THE leader of Pakistan’s Islamic Council has defended the right to inflict domestic abuse, claiming it is in accordance with Islam.
Pakistani religious leader defends telling men it is acceptable to 'beat their wives lightly'
Maulana Muhammed Khan Sherani, the head of the Council, said a "light beating" is acceptable if a woman refuses sex or does not bathe.
Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is the top Islamic advice body in Pakistan and interprets the Quran for the Government.
The religious body provoked international outrage last month after drafting a bill which encouraged a husband to "lightly beat" his wife.
Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is the top Islamic advice body in Pakistan
The bill advised husbands to beat their wives if they refuse sex, ignore demands or stop bathing.
The recommendation came in response to the 'women's protection act', passed earlier this year, which provided women with protection from domestic, psychological and sexual violence.
The CII declared the Parliament’s new act as "un-Islamic", saying "the whole law is wrong", according to Pakistan's Express Tribune.
The bill, which is not legally binding, also banned women from visual advertisement and talking to strangers.
Female nurses should be banned from taking care of male patients and there should be no-co-education after primary school, according to the bill.
A month on from the controversy, Mr Sheerani has refused to back down over his recommendations.
If all of this doesn’t work, then light beating is allowed
He told the BBC: "These recommendations are according to the Quran and Sunnah, the prophet's teachings. No one can dispute that.
"When we draft a bill concerning women we have to consider all possible situations.
"If a woman does not fulfil her responsibilities in marriage first you advise her, if that doesn’t work, then you consult her relatives.
"If that doesn’t work then you desert her in bed. If all of this doesn’t work, then light beating is allowed.
"What is the solution to this issue? If a woman doesn’t respond to advice, doesn’t listen to her relatives, after you’ve used all the options, what should be done?"
The leader of Pakistan’s Islamic Council has defended the right to inflict domestic abuse
He insisted that husbands were often left without a choice if they felt their wives were not listening to them.
Mr Sheerani clarified his advice by insisting: "The beating should not cause any kind of physical damage or even scratches. Resort to light stuff, nothing serious."
When asked about the massive media response to the proposal, the Mullah said: "Society is not the media, they’re two different things. We will not reconsider the recommendations.
"This is according to the Quran, you cannot ask someone to reconsider the Quran."