Islam honors and respects women

Note that pro does admit that wife beating does occur in Islam. I find it quite strange how a man can beat his wife for being "disobedient", yet a woman cannot beat her husband for failing to "provide and protect". This seems like a huge disparity in the balance of power. In Pakistan, wife-beating isn't even considered illegal. Islam women have been committing suicide in Iran due to domestic violence (http://www.rferl.org...) "According to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in 2002, over 90% of married women surveyed in that country reported being kicked, slapped, beaten or sexually abused when husbands were dissatisfied by their cooking or cleaning, when the women had ‘failed' to bear a child or had given birth to a girl instead of a boy, or had an illicit affair" (http://en.wikipedia.org...) Also, note that in the comment section, a person who has been to Afghanistan has noted the abuses that women face there. There are also many examples of wife beating in Muslim literature. Rifa'a divorced his wife whereupon 'AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi married her. 'Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil (and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating). It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's Apostle came, 'Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!" When 'AbdurRahman heard that his wife had gone to the Prophet, he came with his two sons from another wife. She said, "By Allah! I have done no wrong to him but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this," holding and showing the fringe of her garment, 'Abdur-Rahman said, "By Allah, O Allah's Apostle! She has told a lie! I am very strong and can satisfy her but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifa'a." Allah's Apostle said, to her, "If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifa'a unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you." Bukhari (72:715) So here is a story about a woman who gets severely abused. Her skin is very green. Furthermore, the Prophet not only said nothing against these acts, but states he cannot remarry Rifa unless she has sex with her abusive husband. Here's another: "She said: When it was my turn for Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps till he reached Baqi'. He stood there and he stood for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I too ran. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in the bed, he (the Holy Prophet) entered the (house), and said: Why is it, O 'A'isha, that you are out of breath? I said: There is nothing. He said: Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware would inform me. I said: Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. He struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? (Book 4, Number 2127: Hadis from Sahih Muslim) Again this story demonstrates that the Prophet himself beat her wife, for the simple act of leaving the house. Finally: Abu Dawud (2142) - "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife."' These acts of domestic abuse are not even reasonable domestic abuse. Saying that //a woman has no need to rebel//. They have every right to rebel against a tyrant. Just because I would rather live in a dictatorship than in anarchy that does not mean I shouldn't want to live in a free nation. So what if he provides for the family? Don't the women also help by taking care of the children? That deserves just as much respect as being a provider. My opponent claims that: // He is the head of the household which means all decisions are by him, BUT the Quran clearly says men HAVE to discuss and take advice FROM THEIR WIVES before making those choices // If someone has 51% of a voice and another person has 49% of a voice, and it's based on majority rule, guees who gets their way all the time? the person with 51% of a voice. A man ‘discusses' and ‘takes advice' role is essentially as an advisor. A dictator is still a dictator if he or she has an advisor. One cannot be forced to take advice, because it's essentially that, advice, a recommendation. It's not an order. Furthermore, a man cannot discuss issues with his wife if the decisions must be made quickly. (this is essential why the president is one person, and congress is many bodies. The president must make decisions quickly. Congress can act slowly and think about decisions) The American democracy has a system of checks and balances to make sure that neither Congress nor the President become more powerful. Congress is in charge of making laws. The president is in charge of enforcing the laws. Now only does a separation of powers exist, but a system of checks exist as well. In the Federalist Papers, it was stated that the president "has the power of the sword" (commander of the military) and congress "has the power of the purse" (has financial power). Well in the Muslim family, the man has both the power of the sword and the power of the purse. (he is in charge of financial obligations, making decisions, and the power to beat his wife). Note how the power of separation, and checks and balances might be a little unfair in the muslim household: Women: take care of the children. Men: Provider, In charge of finances, Makes all the decisions. Checks and balances Women: ??? Men: Wife must obey her or she can be beaten //And since the husband is the "Man of the house", he need's to know eveything. Everything/everyone that enters or leaves the house// This sounds a lot like micromanagement and being a control freak. I thought women have a voice though and gave advice to the man? If anything, if the women is an advisor, she should need to know more, just like an economic advisor needs to know more about economics then the president. I would like to note that the clothing (or lack of clothing) ones wears is not necessary about objectification or promiscuity. It can be about comfort, culture, and affordability. For example, in many indigenous civilizations, it is common practice for women to have their breasts bare in public. Some indigenous civilizations have their butt and even genitals exposed. In European, and many beaches around the world, topless sunbathing is a common occurrence. My opponent obviously has a problem with this behavior. At first my opponent made the claim that "modesty" is designed to "protect" the women. However //Again as islam respects and honours women, it has no respect to women who dont respect themselves.// Yet, how are these women not respecting themselves? Respecting yourself is about believing in yourself, having confidence, and having esteem for yourself. This is a direct quote from pro that Islam doesn't respect these women. However, the majority of women around the world are like this. This resolution states that Islam respect women, and that means the majority of women.