Religion, State Power, and Domestic Violence in Muslim Societies: A Framework for Comparative Analysis

This article discusses and compares domestic violence in Muslim societies in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In particular, the author highlights the relationship between four issues in each of these communities: shari'a, state power, intrafamily violence and struggles over women's rights. She examines the role of each issue in violence against women, and argues that the most important factor in understanding domestic violence and the impunity of batterers is the relationship between religion and state power. She concludes that when states condone interpretations of shari'a that allow for domestic violence against women, they fail women's rights as humans, citizens, women and Muslims. [Descriptors: Violence Against Women, International]