A video made by the Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia went viral in April after demonstrating how a husband could use a sivaak, or small stick, to hit his disobedient wife, but this is by no means the position in mainstream Islam. Credit:Facebook/Women of Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia On Thursday, federal minister for women, Michaelia Cash, said the video was an "abhorrent" attempt to teach the next generation of young Australian Muslims that violence against women was acceptable. "Domestic violence is abuse - plain and simple. It is not "a beautiful blessing", she said. Shadow minister for women, Tanya Plibersek, tweeted: "Violence and control - never okay. No excuses. Always a crime." Commissioner Mick Fuller, who led the police force's response to domestic violence before his promotion last month, said the law doesn't distinguish between race or religion.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller strongly condemned the views shared in the video. Credit:Steven Siewert "At a time when police are determined to break the cycle of domestic violence, it's disturbing to think there are people who will condone it," he told Fairfax Media on Thursday. "Men need to take responsibility and not receive encouragement to behave violently." The 30-minute video aimed to discuss a contentious verse from the Koran that says: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous woman are Qanitat, and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard. As to those women on whose part you see ill conduct, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, and beat them, but if they return to obedience, do not seek a means against them." Keysar Trad drew widespread condemnation when he tried to explain the same verse to Andrew Bolt. Credit:Brendan Esposito Ms Latifi said that husbands should exercise their three options in order.

First, he should advise the disobedient wife of the rule of Allah. If that doesn't work, he should refuse to share the bed with her. If that doesn't work he is permitted to hit her. Citing two scholars, she said the strike should not cause pain and should be done with an item like a sivaak (a small stick used for cleaning) or a coiled scarf or folded handkerchief. "It is merely a symbolic act," she said. "What a beautiful blessing from Allah, that he said not to take all the steps at one time. It is one after the other." She said examples of disobedience are acts considered a sin rather than something like forgetting to cook dinner.

Ms Allouche said that Allah gave men certain qualities that best placed them to be the leader of the family unit. Therefore, wives were obliged to be obedient to their husband. Among the qualities given to men were slow reaction time, physical strength and the "ability to focus on one matter at one time in a deeper way", Ms Latifi said. Among the qualities given to women were multi-tasking. "Allah assigned this role to the man as he created him with those qualities and greater potential to fulfil this role and he assigned... a differing role to the women according to her characteristics," Ms Latifi said. She said the man's job of "maintaining the marriage" should be seen more as an obligation than a superior status.

"It is an obligation for which he will be held accountable on the day of judgment." If a husband is rebellious to the wife, she can respond by asking a family member to arbitrate or by separating from him, they said. Earlier this year, Muslim community leader Keysar Trad caused widespread outrage when he attempted to explain the same verse on Andrew Bolt's television program. He said that hitting a wife was a "last resort" after trying everything else, such as counselling or buying chocolates. He later apologised for his "clumsy" explanation and condemned all violence against women.

He said the verse must be read alongside other relevant verses such as one that encourages partners to "live amicably (with love and compassion) or separate beautifully". The Grand Mufti and other Muslim leaders have previously released a video explaining the prohibition of domestic violence in Islam. On Thursday, White Ribbon Australia chief executive Libby Davies said the video was abhorrent and "not in keeping with the fundamental right of every woman to live free from violence and abuse". "The use of violence is about power and control and positions women as objects and not as equals," she said. "It is an abuse of their fundamental right to be treated with equality and respect."

Former prime minister Tony Abbott considered banning Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2015 but said the group always made sure it stopped just short of advocating violence.