A Saudi judge, Hamad Al-Razine, speaking at a seminar on domestic violence, of all things, says that men should be allowed to slap their wives if the wives spend too lavishly, as they "deserve" it.

"If a person gives SR 1,200 [$320] to his wife and she spends 900 riyals [$240] to purchase an abaya [the black cover that women in Saudi Arabia must wear] from a brand shop and if her husband slaps her on the face as a reaction to her action, she deserves that punishment," Al-Razine said, setting off a wave of protests from women in the audience. [CNN]

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