A wife beater is arrested in application of the new law to protect women from violence amidst Kafa welcoming

Citizens, Attorney General of Appeals, and police forces from the Gemmayzeh police station pooled their efforts yesterday to save a woman subjected to domestic violence perpetrated by her husband for more than a year and a half and since the first year of her marriage.  The Attorney General of Appeals issued an order to arrest the abusive husband for 48 hours and force him to pay alimony for his wife and child and allow them to return home after giving them back their identity papers which he had previously withheld. The decision came in compliance with clause 11 of the new law to protect women from domestic violence recently approved by Parliament.

According to the news reports, neighbors of the woman subjected to violence called 112 after witnessing the excessive violence perpetrated against the victim by her husband.  A patrol was sent to the pace and the husband was taken to the police station where an interrogation was held with the presence of Kafa according to the order of the judge.  After that, a protection order was lodged with the Judge of urgent matters according to which the judge issued a restraining order against the abuser preventing him for entering in contact with the victims, or from inciting violence against them.  The abuser was ordered to be removed from the family household for a week after his release from detention and he was also ordered to pay for the costs of living for his family as well as attend rehabilitation sessions for 2 weeks at Kafa.  The period is renewable based on the recommendations of the expert.  The abuser was also ordered to return the ID cards of his family members and was prevented from taking her cellular phone.  He was also ordered to allow her to leave her house at will.  The judge also asked Kafa to nominate a social worker to undertake regular visits to the family to ensure tat te judge orders are being duly implemented.

Kafa welcomed the decision.  According to Lawyer Leila Awada, what happened is of extreme importance and reiterates Kafa's demand for ensuring that the Attorney General of Appeals has the mandate to protect women.  Awada also welcomed the speed at which judge of urgent matters acted.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir 2 June 2014