A husband who severely battered his wife, a popular TV presenter, has been sentenced to six months in jail and 300 lashes, a newspaper reported on Monday, after a national outcry in Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Bakar Yunus Al Fallatta repeatedly smashed his wife’s head into the walls and tiled floor and dumped her unconscious at hospital on April 4, Arab News said.

Rania Al Baz, who suffered 13 facial fractures and is still having reconstructive surgery, agreed to have photographs of her injuries published in the press in a campaign to raise awareness of a kingdom-wide problem.

Fallatta, who surrendered to police on April 19, was found guilty on May 29 of severe battery after an attempted murder charge was dropped.

Baz, who is seeking divorce and custody of the couple’s two sons, said she did not wish to comment on the outcome.

Her lawyer said a private claim would likely follow the public case. Under Sharia law, if Baz seeks compensation, her husband could either be ordered to pay damages or be given a beating of equal severity to the one he inflicted on his wife.

Fallatta is reportedly refusing to agree to a divorce, which leaves the court with the option of revoking the marriage contract.

AFP

How effective is it (in the long term) to respond to violence with more violence? Will this man learn anything by being whipped? Would it not make more sense to have him undergo some sort of intensive therapy? Or is this still not an option in Saudi Arabia?

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Originally posted by sallyally:
I just question whether the punishment will do anything to change his behaviour in the future.

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I don't think so

Also keep in mind that the possibility is open for an equiavelent beating when she pursues a private claim. This is seperate from the 300 lashes.

The lashes work as negative reinforcement for the actions he took. Anyone here read Pavlov?

Although I cannot claim to be an expert on the matter, I think most battered women would opt for an equivalent beating instead of jail time.

I just asked a friend at work and she said that if she were in the same situation, she would opt for the equivalent beating, 300 lashes and 6 months in jail, as opposed to any kind of psychiatric attention.