Its not acceptable!

In your article “Syrian in Canada: ‘It’s Not Acceptable to Beat My Wife?” dated July 16. 2017.  (https://clarionproject.org/syrian-refugee-canada-beat-wife-hockey-stick/) You mentioned that the man who beat his wife said: “he was coming from a background where the laws are completely different”.

I would like to inform you that this is completely untrue. I will start by citing the Syrian Constitution, which in Article 23 states: “The state guarantees women all opportunities enabling them to fully and effectively participate in the political, social, cultural, and economic life. The state shall work on removing the restrictions that prevent women's development and participation in building society”.

Then in the Syrian Penal Code:

Article 540: “anyone intentionally intent to injure, wound or harm a person. The acts did not result in the suspension of a person from work for more than ten days. Upon the complaint of the victim, he will be punished by imprisonment for a maximum of six months, or by a rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 25 to 100 lira, or one of these two punishments.

Article 541: If the harm caused him/her to be suspended from work for more than ten days. He will be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, and a fine of one hundred liras at most, or one of these two penalties.

Article (542): If the suspension exceeds twenty days, he shall be sentenced to imprisonment from three months to three years, in addition to the fine mentioned above.

Article 544: In terms of one of the methods mentioned in Article 540, the penalty shall be punishable by abortion of a pregnant woman who is aware of her pregnancy.

Normally, if a wife wants to accuse her husband of beating, the court will rely on these articles for charges. Especially that article 544 mentioning “abortion” as one of the harm results.

Now the question should be: Do wives go to the police to accuse their husbands? In general, NO! It would be considered as great shame for the family. But what will happen if one lady did this? The court will take the case very seriously.

Finally, as to Mohamad Rafia’s claim, through the interpreter: “Officials didn’t inform him of the differences in the law in Canada”. You need to know that every new- comer to Canada attends an information session for two days, where they tell him/her about life in Canada, and -especially- about beating wives and children.

Calgary July 21, 2017

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