<p>Pakistani Islamic Council leader Mohammad Khan Sheerani is pushing for a bill that would allow husbands to beat their wives &ndash; as long as the beating is &ldquo;light.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Sheerani suggests using objects like small sticks, turbans, and hats. &ldquo;But do not hit her on the face or private parts,&#8221; he adds. ;</p>
<p>Pakistani women enjoy more freedom than women living in countries like Saudi Arabia (they can vote and drive), but Sheerani&rsquo;s proposal would considerably shorten that leash.  ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;If you want her to mend her ways, you should first advise her&hellip;If she refuses, stop talking to her&hellip;stop sharing a bed with her, and if things do not change, get a bit strict,&rdquo; Sheerani said to a local newspaper.</p>
<p>Sheerani&rsquo;s 75-page legislation, which is a response to the rejection of the Punjab Women Protection bill for abused women, suggests instances in which beating one&#8217;s wife is appropriate:</p>
<p>&bull; If she interacts with strangers</p>
<p>&bull; If she speaks too loudly</p>
<p>&bull; If she gives cash to others (without husband&rsquo;s permission)</p>
<p>&bull; If she does not wear a hijab ;</p>
<p>If passed, the bill will also prevent women from receiving foreign officials, fighting in wars, and participating in combat missions. ;It will mandate breastfeeding for two years after birth and prohibit a woman from taking birth control without her husband&rsquo;s permission. ;</p>
<p>Human rights activist Farzana Bari has made a stand to declare the proposal ;unconstitutional. ;&ldquo;Allowing a husband to beat his wife, in any way, is against Pakistan&rsquo;s Constitution and the international laws and treaties that Pakistan has signed and is bound by,&#8221; she argues. &#8220;This Council is a burden on the Pakistani taxpayer and bringing a bad name to Muslims throughout the world.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Pakistan, in which child and forced marriages are common, currently appears on the list of the 10 most dangerous countries for women. Pakistani women face acid attacks and stoning for &#8220;bad behavior,&#8221; and according to the Pakistan&#8217;s Human Righs Commission, more than 1,000 women and girls are sacrificed as &#8220;honor killings&#8221; each year. Ninety percent face domestic violence. ;</p>
<p><strong>Editor&#8217;s Commentary:</strong> Yet another example of how alien this culture can be to Americans.</p>