Misogyny Watch: UAE Court Rules Man Can Beat Wife So Long As No Marks Left

The highest court in the United Arab Emirates ruled that a man could beat his wife so long as he left no physical marks. He was also found to have beat his daughter, who was too old to be disciplined.

In the case debated by the Federal Supreme court, the daughter was bruised on the hand and knee, while the wife's lip and teeth were injured.

According to the court, the injuries showed that the man had over-stepped his rights under Shariah, or Islamic law, the newspaper reported. He had originally been fined 500 United Arab Emirates dirhams ($136), but appealed the case twice.

At 23, the daughter was deemed too old to have been disciplined, the newspaper said.

According to Shariah law, a man can beat his wife and children as long as he has first tries unsuccessfully to discipline them by admonishing and then abstaining from sexual relations with his wife.

Islamic scholars don't agree on the definition of "beating" but they do agree that it should not be too severe.