Cleric faces prosecution for advocating wife beating

A Muslim cleric who favours wife-beating under certain circumstances faces prosecution in France.

“Justice can and must do something,” said Justice Minister Dominique Perben.

Chirane Abdelkader Bouziane, who is imam at a mosque in Lyon said he favours beating a wife “under certain conditions, notably if the woman cheats on her husband.”

He claimed that the Koran, the Muslim holy book, “authorises” such behaviour in the case of cheating.

He also said in a magazine interview that a woman does not have the right to work alongside men because “she could be tempted by adultery.”

He said he favours an Islamic republic in France, “but not just for France. I want the whole world to become Muslim.”

Perben said action will be taken against Bouziane, adding: “Family violence is an abomination.”