A seminar by “Irshaad and Islah7” association in UNESCO on violence against women

The family department at the Islamic “Irshaad and Islah7 charitable association, organized yesterday at the UNESCO palace, a seminar entitled “a marriage and not a funeral”.  The event was attended by the representative of the Minister of Social Affairs, Mona Nasrallah, as well as representatives of women organizations.  Jinane Mneymneh noted that the organization held this event in order to come up with solutions to help women victims of violence especially in terms of how the religious courts deal with cases of domestic violence.  She added that the seminar also addresses how to implement the new law and the role of internal security in this matter.  She added that Lebanon still exhibits several cases of violence despite the enactment of the new law to protect family members from family violence.  She called for a special law to protect women victims of violence.  Following that input, a visual presentation of the organization was made include Q&A on violence against women.  People expressed various opinions on this matter notably “calling for women to leave their houses and go back to their parents”, “stand up against violence as soon as it starts” and “subjecting violent men to psychotherapy”.
The seminar included a lecture by Judge Cheikh Abdel Aziz al Shaffei who explained the various reasons which can lead to divorce according to the Sharia law.  He reiterated that he supports women refusing violence and speaking out against it.  He also noted that it is unacceptable that women suffering from domestic violence should find themselves forced to return home if violence does not cease as this will distort the children’s image towards their humiliated mother.  Shaffei noted that acceptance of violence against women starts with raising girls in a way that strips them of self esteem.  He asked families to raise their daughters in a way that they appreciate themselves and demand their rights while most importantly loving themselves and imposing respect.

Source: Al-Mustaqbal 21 August, Al-Safir 25 August 2014