Social minister condemns imam's sermon on hitting wives
Social Minister Jakob Forssmed has expressed strong anger over an imam's sermon in a Stockholm mosque describing how men should hit their wives. The sermon, filmed in 2021, has recently come to light and sparked debate on violence against women. Forssmed calls the statements unacceptable and demands action.
A sermon by an imam at Imame Ali Mosque in Stockholm has sparked strong reactions. In a video from 2021, the imam, referencing a hadith, explains how men should hit their wives without striking the face or causing injury. 'The Prophet said: Do not beat them on the face and do not beat so severely as to leave marks,' the imam is quoted as saying in the sermon, according to Aftonbladet.
Social Minister Jakob Forssmed reacted forcefully when the video came to light. 'It is extremely disturbing and completely unacceptable,' Forssmed told Expressen. He emphasized that such statements promote violence against women and must be taken seriously in Sweden, a country with strong laws against domestic violence. Forssmed called for examination of the sermon's context but stressed that hate speech is not tolerated.
Mosque leadership has commented on the incident, describing the sermon as old, from 2021, and claiming it was taken out of context. They explain that the imam discussed a hadith intended in Islamic tradition to minimize violence, not encourage it. According to the mosque, it concerns an interpretation emphasizing non-violent relationships, but critics view it as normalizing abuse.
The event occurred in Stockholm, where Imame Ali Mosque is a central site for Shia Muslims. The sermon has now led to calls for investigation from politicians and women's organizations. Forssmed noted that the government works to counter honor-based violence and religious extremism, and such sermons may fall under hate crime legislation.
The debate highlights tensions around religion and gender equality in Sweden. No immediate legal actions have been taken against the imam, but the matter is being monitored by authorities. The sermon was filmed during a Friday prayer and recently spread on social media, increasing attention.