An Oslo court has sentenced a man to three years in prison for abusing his immigrant wife and preventing her from integrating into Norwegian society. Prosecutors describe the case as unique, and perhaps precedent-setting. The defendant, a 49-year-old described as being North African himself, was convicted for hindering his wife's attempts to join Norwegian society. He prevented her from going to Norwegian language classes, ordered her to wear traditional North African dress with a veil covering her face, and forced her to remain at home. In doing so, he cut her off from any social contact with others. The court, invoking a welfare law generally reserved for children, found his actions to be punishable by law. The court also found him guilty of beating, threatening and otherwise harassing his wife. "This has been a very special case," prosecutor Paal-Fredrik Hjort Kraby told newspaper Aftenposten. "The man forced the woman to live completely cut off from the community. She was prevented from going out and forced to stay home to look after their children. The court has now determined this was illegal."
| Illegal to relegate the Little Woman to the status of breeding stock? But... But... It's a cultural thing. You can't jug him for a cultural thing! |
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