Rates of domestic violence in Muslim countries is very high, and yet this article shows that specific efforts to establish legal protections for women faces serious obstacles:
Al-Zaidi's ministry is working with other ministries along with civil society organizations in coordination with the United Nations to finalize a national strategic plan for the advancement of women, combating violence against women, and preparing draft legislation to protect against domestic violence.
However, al-Zaidi said she was "very hesitant" to present the draft legislation to parliament because of unsuccessful attempts made by Iraq's Human Rights Ministry to repeal discriminatory provisions.
"The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council thwarted our attempts under the pretext that the time was not right for such amendments which would be rejected by the Iraqi street because they conflict with religious, tribal and traditional norms," said Amin, the Rights Ministry spokesman. "Not only male lawmakers but even some female lawmakers stood against such reforms because of their extreme religious convictions."
At issue is Iraq's penal code, written in 1969, that excuses crimes "if the act is committed while exercising a legal right." Husbands punishing their wives, and parents and teachers punishing children are considered permissible "within certain limits prescribed by law or by custom."
In Iraq, some tribes and fundamental Muslim sects believe that Islamic laws allow husbands to beat unruly wives, and even for families to kill women relatives who are accused of bringing shame upon the home, such as in cases of adultery. The authority given to husbands can sometimes be exploited by their families to abuse wives as well.
One cannot ignore the fact that domestic violence is out of control in western countries as well, but there is a marked difference: those couples who spiral into such abuse are often cohabitating without benefit of marriage, are usually not religious or attending church on a regular basis, and have also been dealing with addictions of all kinds. There is no doubt that promiscuity is an enormous contributing factor -- since it creates unhealthy dependencies among often dysfunctional people.
Thus, the religious convictions of Muslims is often tied to a web of cultural behaviours that harm women, while adherence to the tenets of faith among Christians usually saves women from domestic violence. I think women of all traditions can join in praying for a social construct in which women don't need to live in fear, but can turn to God as a loving protector.
