British Imams Advise Men to Beat Wives for Refusing Sex, Report Says
Clergy members are reportedly citing religious justifications for domestic violence, sparking concerns over lack of official response.
Several British imams are reportedly advising men to physically discipline their wives if they refuse to engage in sexual relations, according to a report.
These pronouncements, made during speeches to congregations, suggest that a wife's refusal to be intimate can be grounds for her husband to strike her. One imam, Aqeel Mahmood, is quoted as saying that if a wife continues to refuse intimacy, her husband can hit her. Another cleric, Yasin Munye, allegedly cited "disobeying the husband when it comes to calling her to bed" as a reason for domestic violence. These sermons appear to be delivered without apparent intervention from law enforcement or government officials.
Similar messages have been reportedly disseminated by other imams. Mahamed AbdurRazaq is also cited as stating that a wife who continues to refuse intercourse can be hit by her husband. In one instance, imam Abdur Rahman Hassan, speaking at the Darussalam Mosque in Southall, London, reportedly told his congregation that it was sinful for a woman to wear perfume outside her home, an instruction that some interpret as part of a broader pattern of controlling women's behavior.
The report raises questions about why authorities are not taking action against the clergy members making these statements, which appear to condone or encourage domestic violence under religious pretenses.