Discrimination against women in Arab world 'legally sanctioned'
agree experts  Sisterhood Is Global Institute Legal experts
found similarities in their respective countries' legislation
that were discriminatory towards women. A panel of legal experts
met from ten Arab countries for a three day workshop to examine
legislation regarding violence against women in the region.
AMMAN - "My husband always beats me up and I think it is normal,
because if he did not beat me up he is not a real man."  Such is
what one woman told him during an interview, said Hilmi Sari,
sociology professor at the University of Jordan for the past 18
years, to an audience of Arab legal experts on Saturday.  "Women
are always taught to be weaker and of lesser value and
capability than their male counterparts. As a result, many women
are unaware of their legal rights," he said.  "Many Arab
scientists describe our communities as `societies of obedience,'
and women usually would be expected to be the most obedient to
their husbands or famil