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An Islamic group has been accused of condoning domestic violence after it described hitting wives as "a beautiful blessing" in a video that has triggered uproar.

The social media video says Muslim men can hit their "obedient" wives but only gently with short sticks known as "sivaaks" and pieces of fabric or scarves instead of fists.

In the video filmed in Sydney, Australia, two women discuss how men are the leader in marriages and how “it goes hand in hand that he would have the right to undertake disciplinary ­measures”.

The 33-minute video was posted to Facebook by the Australian women’s branch of radical Islamic political group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

(Image: Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia/Facebook)

It has provoked condemnation for being "abhorrent" and completely out of touch with community standards and promoting domestic violence.

The video involves a discussion between a woman identifying herself as a Sydney primary school teacher and another panellist.

The panellist says it was a "beautiful blessing" to have different steps including hitting the wife.

“He is permitted - not obliged, not encouraged - but permitted, to hit her.

"It should not cause pain.”

The teacher says “hitting” was "symbolic in nature" and must be done in a “managed way”.

The pair then demonstrate using a sivaak, a folded handkerchief, fabric scrap or coiled scarf on each other.

The pair then agree committing sin is an act requiring disciplinary sin such as disobedience to the husband, immoral acts or cheating or admitting someone to the home the husband does not like.

The women say discipline can be required to “promote tranquillity” in a family home.

(Image: Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia/Facebook)

Australian Federal Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the video was "completely out of touch with community standards".

"The Facebook video posted by Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia condoning and encouraging violence against women is abhorrent," Ms Cash said.

"These attitudes have no place in modern Australia.

"Domestic violence is abuse – plain and simple. It is not 'a beautiful blessing' as the video describes it."

Labor MP Ed Husic, who is Australia's first Muslim frontbencher, reportedly said the clip was unacceptable.

"It is not acceptable in any form to strike anyone, either between husband or wife or anywhere," he said.

Independent right-wing senator Cory Bernardi said he was appalled.

"I think it is disgraceful that anyone thinks it is acceptable (for) domestic violence in any way, shape or form to take place in Australia," he told ABC News .

(Image: AFP)

In a statement after the video was reported, the group posted a statement on Facebook, saying it made a mistake sharing the video on social media but criticising the media's reporting of it.

The group said: "We would like to acknowledge the very understandable concern expressed from sections of our Muslim community regarding a recent posting we made of an event on the tafsir of a verse of Surat al-Nisa (subsequently dug up and given the usual tabloid treatment by media).

"Indeed, we express our gratitude for the sincere advice we have received and continue to receive from members of the community.

"Sincere criticism from the community one serves is a blessing.

"We firmly believe that we, as a community, must not shy away from the clarification of Islamic injunctions, however controversial, let alone succumb to reinterpretations of Islam forced by liberal hounding.

"In fact, the greater the pressure, the greater our adherence to Islam must be.

"Nevertheless, there is a need to be sensitive to the environment in which we operate and the context in which we are speaking.

"When mud-slinging at Islam is the order of the day in an increasingly hostile West, more thought needs to be given to the question of purpose, worth and risk of sharing content online. We acknowledge our mistake in this respect in this instance.

"We would especially like to acknowledge in this regard sisters in our community involved in the Domestic Violence space and their advice on how things can be misconstrued on this topic and we thank them for their tremendous ongoing work.

"Domestic Violence is an abomination that Islam rejects in the strongest terms."