Islam and Women's Rights

You must read this, an attempt by Ghadi al-Hori to explain when a man may beat a disobedient wife.

It is quite obvious here that Islam adopts a gradual approach starting with verbal admonishment of the wife, then seeks a period of refraining from conjugal relations and, finally, if the husband finds the situation very serious, he may strike his disobedient wife....

A rebellious woman who is not moved by kind works, persuasion and admonition is a woman of no feeling and must therefore be punished by beating. Psychiatrists tell us of people, including women, for whom a cure lies in beating.

Hmmm. You're attempting to defend Islam here, aren't you?