Denmark has summoned the Iranian ambassador over reports the Embassy has pressured Muslim women to accept illegal divorce terms drawn up by local imams.
Just hours earlier, the government announced a crackdown on controversial Muslim marriage contracts, calling for up to three years imprisonment for imams formulating them.
The issue came to the forefront last month when one woman revealed she had been forced to accept divorce terms that stated she would lose custody of her children if she remarried.
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said it was “unacceptable” and has summoned Iran’s Danish envoy, Afsaneh Nadipour, to the Danish Foreign Ministry to answer questions over the Embassy’s involvement.
“I take the rumours extremely seriously that the Iranian Embassy, unsolicited, had contacted women living here to pressure them to have their Danish divorce papers religiously validated,” he said.
Mr Kofod said the Scandinavian country would “in no way accept if an embassy is involved in cases that are contrary to Danish law – and contrary to our basic democratic values in Denmark.”
“The kind of religious control that we have heard about in the media does not belong in Denmark,” he added.
On Wednesday, the Danish government announced new measures to tackle the problem.
It is proposing a law that will increase the punishment for psychological violence so that it also includes negative social control, Sharia divorce contracts and other practices used to deter citizens from getting divorced.
"When we see imams getting involved in divorce cases in such a negative way, we need to take this more seriously. And I think a change of the law can help do that," Immigration Minister Mattias Tesfaye said, according to Berlingske newspaper.
Last month, an imam in Odense was reported to the police for producing a Sharia Law divorce contract that ruled a woman would lose her children if she did not fulfil a list of unreasonable requirements.
It also banned her from moving more than 130km away from her ex-husband and ordered her to pay him 75,000 kroner ($11,856) to be divorced.
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
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- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Allardyce's management career
Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) - England (2016)
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
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Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
