Cleric Who Advocated Wife-Beating Is Held

[CShine]

An Algerian-born Muslim cleric who said wife-beating was justified in cases of adultery has been detained and will be expelled from France, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday. The announcement about Chirane Abdelkader Bouziane, an imam in the Lyon suburb of Venissieux, came after France deported another Algerian-born imam who was accused of preaching radical Islam. Bouziane was detained hours after Justice Minister Dominique Perben said he may have to answer for his remarks.

"The government cannot tolerate remarks in public that are contrary to human rights, detrimental to human dignity and in particular to the dignity of women, (or) calls of hate, violence or defense of terrorism," the ministry said in a statement.

In the April edition of the magazine Lyon Mag, Bouziane said he favors wife-beating "under certain conditions, notably if the woman cheats on her husband." He claimed the Quran, the Muslim holy book, authorizes such punishment — an interpretation rejected by moderate Muslims.

Bouziane also said a woman should not work alongside a man because "she could be tempted by adultery," according to Lyon Mag.

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