Courtesy of IranMania.com
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleVi ... %20Affairs
LONDON, Sep 23 (IranMania) - An Iranian woman has taken her husband to court in a bid to secure a judicial order for him to beat her once a week instead of every night, press reports said Wednesday.
"My husband is violent and beats me virtually every evening. I thought that he would stop after the birth of our child, but in fact it has got worse," the woman, identified only as Maryam J., was quoted as saying in court by the Mardomsalari paper.
"I don't want a divorce or compensation. My husband is violent. It is in his nature. I just want him to promise to beat me only once a week," the woman argued, reportedly causing the judge and audience to burst out into laughter.
Summoned to explain himself, the husband confessed to beating up his wife "every evening".
"I hit her because a wife should be afraid of her husband, and this way I oblige her to respect me," said the man, who was not identified.
According to the paper, the judge has demanded that the husband give a written assurance that he will stop beating his wife altogether.
My comments:
I strongly believe that domestic violence in any culture is a gross violation of human rights. As stated in three and five of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948, "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
Domestic violence not only violates the security of person, but certainly counts as degrading treatment. In more extreme cases, it also violates article four which states, "No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms."
As a member of the United Nations since 1945, Iran not only agreed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but took a role in creating it.
I understand that in Iranian culture women maintain a different status than do women in America. According to Sarah Neff of Minnesota State University Mankato, "Women in Iran must follow extremely strict codes and laws. Women appearing in public must practice strict dress and behavioral codes. Women, including foreigners, should cover their hair, and wear a long dress to cover their body. All that should show on a woman's body are the hands, toes, and face. Women must use 'women only' public transportation. There are also 'women only' swimming pools, beaches, ski slopes, and sport facilities. Even when jogging in public, women must follow the dress and behavioral codes. Foreigners traveling in Iran must always carry papers stating relationship when with members of the opposite sex. Law enforcement officials may stop and ask for these documents."
In a speech last week to the United Nations General Assembly, President Bush addressed the issue of human rights, including the rights of women.
"Both the American Declaration of Independence and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaim the equal value and dignity of every human life. That dignity is honored by the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women, protection of private property, free speech, equal justice, and religious tolerance. That dignity is dishonored by oppression, corruption, tyranny, bigotry, terrorism and all violence against the innocent. And both of our founding documents affirm that this bright line between justice and injustice -- between right and wrong -- is the same in every age, and every culture, and every nation."
Don't misunderstand, I have no problem using violence as a tactic when necessary, however I don't believe it's appropriate to do so on a regular basis, nor do I believe it's appropriate to do so in a domestic relationship.
As you read this, our soldiers are using violence to remove al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorists from Iraq. Although anti-war activists claim violence does not resolve violent conflicts, I disagree. In the case of the 1995-1998 civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was necessary for the U.S., along with the U.N. and NATO, to end the mass genocide which resulted in 278,000 dead or missing, and another 1,325,000 refugees and exiles.
Domestic violence does not remove outlaw dictators from power, does not halt mass genocide, nor does it remove a terrorist threat. On the contrary, domestic violence is a form of terrorism. Terrorists fighting a Jihad and men who beat their wives both count on fear in their victims. Fear is a common practice in domestic relationships for men, and at times women, to maintain control.
According to a 1992 report by the American Medical Association, domestic violence costs the United States from $5 to $10 billion annually in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity.
"Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." Ephesians 5:28 (NIV)
