Minister under fire for advising men to beat ‘unruly’ wives

A Malaysian minister, Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who advised husbands to beat their wives “gently” to discipline them for “unruly” behaviour has outraged women’s rights group and some persons in the country.

Yusoff, a deputy minister for women and family in a video she shared on her Instagram page advised husbands to first speak to “undisciplined and stubborn wives” and, if they are not compliant, to sleep apart from them.

“However, if the wife still refuses to take the advice, or change her behaviour after the sleeping separation, then the husbands can try the physical touch approach, by striking her gently, to show his strictness and how much he wants her to change.”

Women groups in Malaysia are accusing the minister of normalising domestic violence, reports UK Times.

In a statement shared with BenarNews, a Muslim nongovernment organisation, Sisters in Islam described the video as appalling.

“It is deplorable for a deputy minister of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to make and share a video that supports women being treated as subservient, inferior beings who deserve to be disciplined and corrected in their character and behavior,” the organization said in its statement.

A Malaysian lawmaker, Nurul Izzah Anwar slamming the minister said, “The pandemic has only seen an increase in domestic violence, predominantly against women. This so-called ‘advice’ by the deputy minister is a disservice and goes against current realities and needs.”