'It's a blessing': Sydney Muslim women discuss a husband's right to hit his wife

Muslim men are permitted to "strike" their women with a small stick or handkerchief, "provided it does not cause pain", according to a new video released from the women's branch of the radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

In a video released by the group on Facebook, two Muslim women discuss the methods and justifications in which a man may be permitted to hit his wife, in accordance with the teachings of the Koran.

The Australian reports one of the women is Sydney schoolteacher Reem Allouche, who in the video tells an audience of 26 women in the west of the city that the husband takes on the role of leader in the marriage.

The teacher speaks of and demonstrates the ways in which a Muslim man might discipline his wife in a "managed way" with the aid of a short stick or a piece of fabric.

"It's symbolic," she says.

Another woman in the video, Atika Latifi, adds, "And it's a blessing."

Discussing one of the passages of the Koran that concerns women, the Sura An-Nisa, Ms Allouche says that the leadership position allows, "that he would have the right to undertake disciplinary measures".

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Ms Latifi concurs, saying the husband is "permitted – not obliged, not encouraged – but permitted, to hit her".

"That is what everyone is talking about. It should not cause pain. Not harsh," she says.

The women then discuss what sort of implements might be used to dole out punishment, Ms Allouche producing a pen-sized stick used to clean teeth called a "sivaak".

Ms Allouche then asks if she "may have the honour" to demonstrate how the tool would be used, tapping her counterpart on the wrist with the stick.

The women then say the man might use "a coiled scarf" or "a folded handkerchief", Ms Latifi producing a small piece of cloth that Ms Allouche wraps up to show how it would be used to hit the wife.

"It's very evident that this is symbolic in nature," Ms Allouche says.

"And it's not what people have understood… This is the reality of the disciplinary option."

Ms Latifi adds "Striking should be done in such a way as not to cause harm or pain. It's a symbolic act."

The women then discuss what might justify the rod, such committing sin, cheating or "admitting anyone to the home that the husband doesn't like".

The women represent Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamic group that has been in the headlines on several occasions for its violent and misogynistic preachings.

Most recently, the group said that former Muslims should be executed, in line with its readings of the Koran.