Ok I never claimed that women can't kill someone or do harm, I in fact said that those are probably the few times when violence is ok against women so to use those examples is a rather dishonest attempt to try and backup violence against women as being necessary.

Secondly equal in one thing equal in another makes no sense unless somehow women are now physically as big and strong as men are and are capable of holding their own at all times and giving back as well as they get. I highly doubt this is the case as I am 170 lbs 6'2" tall and basically a walking stick figure. However I am still far stronger and more capable of beating the ever loving crap out of almost all of my female friends at any time I should so choose too. My shortest female friend is 4'11" tall and maby 80 lbs and I know for a fact that I am more than capable of holding her wrists together with one hand and that she is incapable of getting away or even properly defending herself.

In the "age of equality" we need to be mindful to treat people in the way in which we expect to be treated ourselves, we do not all suddenly become equal. And you still have not given an actual good reason for why casual beating of women or any beating at all are necessary. Unless of course you are claiming that men in Islamic societies are emotionally incapable of handling tense situations at home with logic and reason and that they simply need to be able to lash out against someone who is smaller and weaker than themselves to feel as if they are in control of the situation.

*legitimately Godwins the thread*

*illegitimately RonPauls the thread too, for good measure*

Are those social issues because of Islam, or the cultural values of the country/society itself? (Please note, that, as mentioned, many so-called 'Islamic' countries are not following the true spirit of the religion)

I am not trying to argue anything, other than the difference in values between the two cultures, and that the standards of one, cannot be used to judge another. With regard your comment on how women should be treated, I would simply point out, as did the author of the article, that Al Qur'an gives guidance on this (and other) matter(s).

You can't conveniently deny that men are biologically, on average, larger and stronger than women. And that in many cases this gives men an advantage in a physical conflict. It's less about treating women literally "equally" (which is unfair) and more about acting as though they are human.

I can't find the original post from Spike. Where is it?

What kind of wine was it?

Bitch, that shit stains!!!

inkonnu = Spike. Long story. Long, stupid story.

Spike was a troll from long ago, who let his account here lapse, converted to Islam, and came back as inkonnu pretending to have changed into a "new man" who just happened to also be a troll.

Ah, that is what I get for skimming instead of reading. Ok, into the fray go I!

What about them? You seem to be failing to grasp the fact that western concepts of right and wrong cannot be used to judge the affairs of other cultures. As I said, just because you personally disagree with the way things they do things, it doesn't give you the right to expect them to start doing things your way.

The author of the article clearly stated that the word translated and interpereted in modern Arabic as 'physically strike', had a totally different meaning in Classical Arabic. As above, please see my examples of the words 'jihad' and 'gay' as other instances where words are misinterpereted or, by linguistic evolution, take on different meanings.

I haven't seen Al Qur'an condone abuse of any people, regardless of age or gender. Do stop trying to twist the issue into one of 'abuse', rather than one of (by those standards) reasonable chastisement. The author was not advocating abusing women. If so, please quote the relevent text.

Typo, Cunt. Typo. Goes to show how weak your position is when you have to start resorting to such pettiness to try and score a point.

Says the person who thinks they're being funny by continuing to refer to me by an old screenname. Keep it up, Cunt, you're not proving anything here, other than how petty you are.

What exactly do I mean by what?
If you mean my comment on equality, I mean just that. Men and women are equal in all things. One cannot expect to be treated equally in one issue, but then expect preferencial treatment in another. Example:

Is it right for a wife to batter her husband?

Is it right for a husbant to batter his wife?

Trick questions, neither situation is acceptable. In either cases, in the eyes of the law, either victim, regardless of their sex, is entitled to use reasonable force to defend themself.

Oh, if you don't want me to change your username again, don't change mine.

I suggest you actually click the link and read the article. According to their findings, he did not abuse her.

How many human rights violations can be excused under the banner of cultural relativism?

Human rights are either universal or they are invalid. One thing they are not is "Western." Nice try, though.

You can say that human rights are invalid. That's what you're arguing, after all. But it's a sickening, amoral position to take, and one which can be fitted to the service of any manner of atrocity.

If you're happy with that, fine. But at least be a man and admit you think it's okay to abuse women and children because they have no rights.

They're the same thing, genius. That's the whole point.

Would you rather I called you "Cunt"? You think that's classier?

Sorry you feel that way, and apologies for the previous typo of your name, time had passed to allow me to edit it once it was brought to my attention. Genuine mistake, so deepest appologies for any offence caused there.