Pars Today

Welcome to this week's episode of the series "Iranian Family". One of the disturbing and irrefutable facts of the contemporary world is domestic violence. Today, we discuss this topic of concern.

In a world, within which home should be a shelter for its occupants, so that they would be able to forget and set aside the hardships, woes and difficulties of the outside world; for some, home has turned into a venue at which the flames of anger, violence, and revenge have been fanned. Domestic violence is not restricted to a particular stratum. Currently, all countries round the world, and different social strata are struggling with domestic violence; with the economic, social, and cultural changes fueling this unwanted phenomenon.

In accordance to global statistical figures, roughly 90% of the victims of domestic violence are women, and nearly 10% are men. A comparison between modern and traditional communities shows that domestic violence is more evident in traditional societies; within which handling violence is more difficult due to cultural and social traditions.

In the meantime, in contrast to common imagination that women in the West are exposed to domestic violence to a lesser extent in comparison to other societies; a glance at the official released figures in the West proves otherwise. In fact, in the Western countries, women are also highly vulnerable to domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse.

For example, the French Interior Ministry has announced that in the year 2017, more than a hundred women have died in France due to domestic violence. According to French Police, around 125 victims of domestic violence have been murdered by their current or former spouse.

Domestic violence can be in the form of physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse, occurring in all strata of the community, age groups, races, or gender. Children are also not safe from the consequences of domestic violence in the short-term or in the long run. Violent individuals have been the victims or witnesses of violence in their childhood.

Thus, domestic violence does not just impact a single person, while the related victim of domestic violence learns violent behavior in his adulthood, upon establishing his family, and maintains the same behavioral pattern, mistreating and abusing the members of his own family. In fact, 80% of criminals have been brought up in violent environments. Boys who are brought up in violent families are 80% more likely than others to beat their wives.

Meanwhile, some women endure the mental and physical repercussions of domestic violence in order to save their family. These women's silence mounts domestic violence. Meanwhile, laws have been set for protection of women against domestic violence.

Obviously, women cannot appropriately fulfill their roles in the community, while they are anxious and demoralized. Domestic violence against women, causes mental disorders in them, and negatively impacts their self-confidence and mental health. Thus, women who have experienced violence gradually keep their distance from members of the community.

This comes while based on the logic of creation, men and women should not violate each other's rights. In fact, based on Islamic teachings, joint rights are granted to married men and women, both.

Based on the tradition of the Prophet of Islam's Infallible Household (PBUT), a strong emotional bond should be established and maintained among married couples.

MR/ME