Man avoids Portuguese jail for beating of ex-wife with nail-spiked club because her infidelity brought him 'dishonour'
Ruling blames 'disloyalty and sexual immorality' of the victim for the attack
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who beat his ex-wife with a nail-spiked club has been spared jail by a Portuguese court because her infidelity brought “dishonour” on him.
After teaming up with the woman's former lover who restrained her, he hit her repeatedly with the home made weapon, court documents showed.
She was left head injuries that needed five stitches after the June 2015 attack, according to CNN which originally reported the story.
Her husband was originally given a 15 month suspended sentence and a fine.
But when this was challenged, the appeals court in Porto refused to impose a stiffer sentence on the man.
Citing the Bible and the Portuguese Penal Code of 1886, which allows little more than symbolic punishment for domestic violence, the ruling, written by Judge Joaquim Neto de Moura and co-signed by Maria Luisa Abrantes said that the woman's adultery was "a very serious attack on the honour and dignity of the man."
It added: "It was the disloyalty and the sexual immorality of the plaintiff that made (the defendant) fall into a profound depression, and it was in this depressive state and clouded by the revolt that carried out the act of aggression, as was well considered in the judgement under appeal."
"This case is far from having the seriousness that, generally, is presented in cases of mistreatment in the context of domestic violence. On the other hand, the conduct of the defendant took place in a context of adultery practised by the plaintiff."
The judges defended the ruling by citing a passage in the Bible that states: “The adulterous woman must be punished by death”.
The case has sparked outrage in Portugal and demonstrations against it are reportedly being planned in Porto and Lisbon.
Rights group Amnesty International also called the verdict a “reflection of a culture and justice than promotes misogyny”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments