Reem Allouche and Atika Latifi #fundie dailymail.co.uk

Muslim men are allowed to hit their wives if they disobey them and domestic violence is a 'beautiful blessing', according to the women's branch of a radical Islamic group.

Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche told the women's arm of hardline political group Hizb ut-Tahrir that men are permitted to hit women with sticks.

During the 30-minute discussion at a meeting in Sydney's west, Ms Allouche and fellow panellist Atika Latifi - who are both wearing headscarves - describe how beating women is a 'symbolic act'.

At one point they even demonstrated how to use a small stick called a 'sivaak' to hit 'disobedient' women.

In a video of the debate, which has been posted on Facebook, Ms Allouche says men should use the sivaak to punish their wives.

She then uses one of the sticks to hit Ms Latifi while the pair laugh.

Other permissible methods to punish women involve using a twisted scarf or piece of fabric, the women say.

Ms Allouche says the act is 'symbolic', while Ms Latifi claims it's 'a beautiful blessing'.

The women agree that they should only be beaten if they are caught 'committing sin' - pointing out that this means seriously disrespecting Allah or their husbands.

'Disobedience to the husband. Immoral acts or cheating. Admitting anyone to the home that the husband doesn't like,' Ms Latifi explains.

Ms Allouche smiles as she adds that does not mean a man can beat his wife simply for not cooking dinner, with the women agreeing that violence should only be used to 'promote tranquility'.

The pair agree that men have the right to beat their wives because husbands take a 'leadership' position within the family.

'It goes hand in hand that he would have the right to undertake disciplinary ­measures,' Ms Allouche says.

Ms Latifi adds: 'He is permitted - not obliged, not encouraged - but permitted, to hit her. That is what everyone is talking about. It should not cause pain. Not harsh.'

During the debate, Ms Allouche says wives who disobey Muslim teachings could face a beating from their husband, but only because 'he loves his wife, he fears for his wife'.

'It's almost a natural consequence,' she adds.

'He's not responding through anger or frustration or rage. He's responding in obedience to Allah's commands, in a measured and staged way, because we know when people talk about violence against women, often it happens in the heat of the moment, in anger, in frustration and what-not, whereas here, it's managed.'

Ms Latifi claims violence should be a last resort for husbands, saying they should admonish them first.

If that does not work, he should 'refuse to share the bed with her, not being intimate with her'.

Finally, if that does not work, he 'is permitted to hit her'.

'And what a beautiful blessing, that he said not to take the steps at the one time, but one after the other,' she continues.

'And what is the third option all about? What kind of hitting? It should not cause pain.'

The all-women meeting was held in Lakemba in Sydney's inner west, The Australian reported.

The government considered banning Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2007 but eventually deemed it to be a political group.

Islamic leader Keysar Trad apologised at the weekend for saying hitting women was a 'last resort', admitting to Sky News presenter Andrew Bolt that he had made a 'slip up'.

11 comments

Confused?

So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!

To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register. Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.