Bad news if you’re Muslim, female and live in the Australian state of Victoria.
A new police handbook just published there abandons the idea of equality under the law when women are assaulted by men:
“In incidents such as domestic violence, police need to have an understanding of the traditions, ways of life and habits of Muslims.”
They are told it would be appreciated in cases of domestic violence if police consult the local Muslim religious leader who will work against “fragmenting the family unit”.
I’ll bet.
You’d think the Activist Diary in Green Left Weekly – Australia’s “voice of dissent” – would provide plenty of evidence of angry opposition to this assault on the rights of women, wouldn’t you?
Check out the message which appeared at the top of the page when I clicked through to see what the so-called progressive response was.
Are women’s legal rights merely an inconvenient shibboleth for the left down under?