An Islamic community leader in Australia said Wednesday on Sky News that a "good" person would not beat his wife unless it was a "last resort."
Keysar Trad, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, made the comment during a news segment on the Koran. Sky News host Andrew Bolt quoted a verse from the Koran that states, "It is permissible for him [the husband] to beat her [the wife] light with his hands."
Trad–who has previously called for polygamy in Australia, according to the Daily Mail–justified the verse by arguing that a husband beating his wife must be a last option. He noted that he consulted with "a number of Islamic scholars" to reach his interpretation of the Koranic verse.
"If you come home and you are really, really angry. We've seen many men act violently towards their woman," Trad said. "This verse is saying really, is playing on the psychology of the man, saying violence is a last resort."
Trad explained that the man should try to do other things before resorting to violence against his spouse, like counseling or buying flowers.
"Before you even consider using your hand, before you consider any act of violence, have you checked box number one which is counseling?" Trad said. "Next time you should bring her a bunch of flowers, maybe you should bring her a box of chocolates."
Bolt did not seem convinced by Trad's argument and interrupted him.
"Maybe you should beat her if she doesn't see any sense. Beat her. That's what this says: beat them. I'm reading the Koran," Bolt said.
Trad responded that a "good" person would never use violence against their spouse.
"I understand what you're saying, but what I would say to you is a good person would never get to that step," Trad responded.
Watch the exchange below:
WATCH: Islamic community leader @keysartrad says beating women is 'a last resort'. Live on #TheBoltReport on @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/ZsWICdgbbR
— The Bolt Report (@theboltreport) February 22, 2017