PA mufti of Gaza on official TV teaches men how to 'discipline' women, instructing them to 'hit her, don't make her ugly.'

Hit her, but don't make her ugly.

That's the message of an official Palestinian Authority (PA) television show in Gaza teaching Muslim men how to keep their wives "in line," as translated by Palestinian Media Watch.

"When she makes a mistake," explains the PA Mufti of Gaza, Hassan Al-Laham, "he will explain: you shouldn't do this and that." After this warning stage, advises the Mufti, men should "separate" from their wives until they change their behavior.

If the two do not reconcile, however, next "comes the hitting." Al-Laham is quick to clarify that one must be careful not to "make her ugly" while engaging in this corporal punishment, as the Hadith teaches "The Prophet said: 'Do not hit the face and do not make her ugly.'"

And of course, the Mufti adds, one should not beat his wife so badly that the police intervene to protect her: "[And no] hitting that will bring the police."

He adds that rather than being an act of hate, wife-beating can be an "uplifting" experience.

"This hitting is a kind of reminder that the love and friendship that Allah commanded, is still found between us."