Saudi marriage counselor condemns gender equality and advise men to beat their wives with a toothpick

A Saudi marriage counselor Khaled Al-Saqaby, explains how unruly wives needed to be disciplined to stamp out their desire for 'equality'. However he urges men not to hurt their wives too much, advising using a toothpick or handkerchief to minimise injury.

Mr Al-Saqaby stresses it should not be a way for a husband to "vent one's anger".

He says:

"Women have to understand the aim is to discipline. The necessary Islamic conditions for beating must be met.
"The beating should not be performed with a rod, nor should it be a headband, or a sharp object which, I am sad to say, some husbands use.

"It should be done with something like the sewak tooth-cleaning twig or with a handkerchief, because the goal is to merely make the wife feel that she was wrong in the way she treated her husband."

He adds women seeking equality with their husbands was one of the main reasons for a husband's need to discipline them.

He says: 

"This is a very grave problem. In addition, sometimes a woman makes a mistake that may lead her husband to beat her.

"I'm sad to say there are some women who say "Go ahead. If you are a real man, beat me." She provokes them."

The video was recorded in February but was released this week via the Washington DC-based Middle East Media Research Institute.

He added corporal punishment had to be a last resort, suggesting husbands talk to their wives then 'forsake them in bed' before resorting to violence.

Sitting in a woodland grove, he admits women need disciplining but outlines how to do it safely and according to Islam.

In the video, he says:

 "I am aware that this issue is a thorny one which contains many hazards, but Allah willing we will cross this bridge safely.

"I believe the problem arises when husbands do not understand how to deal with disobedience. Some women disobey their husbands and make mistakes with them, and their husbands think this is due to inadequate treatment [of disobedience]."

"The first step is to remind her of your rights and of her duties according to Allah. Then comes the second step - forsaking her in bed.

"Here some husbands make mistakes which might exacerbate the problem."

Mr Al-Saqaby goes on to explain how men should remain sharing a bed with their wives but turn their back on them rather than sleeping in a different room or house.

He says: "As a woman once told me, this is the most ingenious way to discipline a wife. If the husband leaves the room it is easier for her than if he remains but turns his back to her or if he sleeps on the floor or vice versa."