It barely needs stating that that position is truly repugnant. It does need stating, however, that isn’t exactly what Keysar Trad actually said.
Violence against women a 'last resort' https://t.co/SpqEVFG3Fb pic.twitter.com/FcdbYhFZ6H
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 22, 2017
Last night, the head of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils appeared on Sky News with Andrew Bolt who questioned him about whether Islam could be considered a feminist religion.
Bolt read out a passage in the Koran which says “It is permissible for him to beat her lightly with his hands, avoiding her face and other sensitive areas” and asked Trad for his interpretation. The exchange unfolded like this:
“What that verse is really putting as a scenario is if you come home and you’re really, really angry — we’ve seen many men act violently towards their women — what this verse is saying really is playing on the psychology of the man saying violence is a last resort,” he said.
“The first thing you must do is counselling … Before you even consider using your hand, before you consider an act of violence, have you checked box number one, which is counselling, have you checked boxed number two?
“So what does counselling entail? Maybe next time you should bring her a bunch of flowers, maybe next time you should bring her a box of chocolates, maybe next time you should take her out to dinner.”
Bolt interrupted: “And then beat her. If you still don’t see sense, beat her. That’s what that says. I’m reading the Koran.”
Trad attempted to explain further by saying his own interpretation is that a good person would never get to that step.
His comments were framed as inflammatory which isn’t surprising given the focus on this area following Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s appearance on Q&A last week.
Trad returned to television on Thursday morning to explain himself on Channel 10.
Muslim community leader Keysar Trad clarifies his comments about a husband's right to hit his wife as "a last resort". #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/X4i1VfAd7m
— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) February 22, 2017
“I do denounce violence unequivocally. But when you’re asked to explain a verse that has certain words in it, you have to explain what that verse is,” Trad said. “Maybe I did not choose my words very carefully … what the verse is saying to you, resolve it amicably, if you can’t, leave each other. Do not get to step number three. You never get to step number three.”
It doesn’t negate the fact that that passage is in the Koran, or that others might interpret that passage differently. They are both legitimate problems.
But let’s not put words in the mouths of others in a bid to discredit them. And let’s not pretend that violence against women is the exclusive product of any single religion or school of thought.
Domestic violence isn’t a problem in Australia because of the Koran or the bible. It happens under an array of faiths and cultures. The most influential risk factor is not a victim’s age or culture or faith: it is her gender. If we are going to talk about violence against women, let’s be clear on the facts.