ABSTRACT

This chapter describes some of their experiences in Al-Aman of offering a perpetrator programme for Arabic speaking men in London, and the associated work in the community. The Arabic speaking community in London is multi-faith, it is predominantly Muslim: whilst the two major doctrines Sunni and Shia disagree on some Islamic interpretations, they adopt similar positions on women's status and rights. Al-Aman is a groundbreaking project as it challenges practices that are deeply embedded in cultural and religious traditions. The issue of domestic abuse was formerly unchallenged and still has a wall of silence surrounding it. The chapter views that Islam does not encourage domestic abuse and that the majority of Muslim men are peaceful and loving husbands and parents, there are interpretations of certain religious texts which cause serious concern and enhance men's resistance to domestic abuse intervention programmes. Al-Aman is the Arabic speaking project of the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP).