Controversial religious book describes wife-beating measures

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A state-funded religious foundation has sparked public anger by publishing a book that says that men can beat their wives as long as they avoid the face and don't strike too hard.

The "Muslim's Handbook," written by retired cleric Kemal Guran, also says that if a man's wife is ill and he cannot afford a servant, he can take a second wife.

"I am outraged that such a book was published with state funds -- with money women paid in taxes," Zuhal Kilic said Wednesday. She heads the women's group KADER, which aims to promote women in politics.

Sema Piskinsut, head of parliament's committee on human rights, said "no one has the right to hit another person." Her comments were reported in the Turkish Daily News.

The book was published by the Religious Foundation, which is affiliated with Turkey's government-run Religious Affairs Directorate. The directorate appoints all Muslim clerics and dictates topics to be preached at mosques.

Although other religious books published in the past have said wife beating was permissible, the "Muslim's Handbook" comes as the directorate is trying to present a modern interpretation of Islam, including greater rights for Muslim women.

Women's groups did not directly call for action against the foundation, which is already in trouble with the military.

The military is investigating whether the foundation violated laws by publishing a separate book that calls the armed forces "not a national army but the army of a faction (of society)."

The army is staunchly secular and is championing a crackdown against political Islam. Insulting the army is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of six years.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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