German Insurer Cites Koran to Refuse Claim

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How about that?

09/28/2010

'Muslim Men Don't Do Housework'

German Insurer Apologizes for Citing Koran to Refuse Claim (DPA)

A German insurance company got into trouble for citing the Koran in its refusal to compensate a Muslim accident victim for the cost of hiring a maid. Muslim men leave the housework to their wives, a clerk for the Gothaer insurance firm argued. The company has apologized.

A Muslim immigrant in Germany who asked his insurance firm to cover the costs of a maid while he recovered from a serious accident had his claim rejected on the grounds that according to his religion, husbands don't do the housework anyway.

The 79-year-old Algerian man had been seriously injured after being hit by a car and had already received a six-figure sum in damages from the Gothaer insurance company. When he filed an additional claim to cover the costs of running his household because he wasn't healthy enough to do so himself, an insurance clerk responded by interpreting the Koran as placing the man above the woman.

In her letter, she wrote of Muslim marriage: "It can't be assumed to resemble a German marriage. According to the patriarchical and traditional view of the man in the Muslim marriage, the husband doesn't run the household."

Unacceptable Tone

The clerk cited the big age difference between the man and his wife -- he is 26 years older -- as a further indication that the burden of doing the housework was likely to fall on the wife. However, media reports said the wife has a job, which was why he did most of the work around the home.

The company distanced itself from its insurance clerk this week and said it would apologize to the claimant. Company spokeswoman Martina Fassbender said the clerk's tone had been unacceptable and that her arguments in no way corresponded with the views and policies of the company which adhered to very strict anti-discrimination rules and trained its employees accordingly. "Something like this simply must not happen," said Fassbender.

It is unclear whether the insurer will reverse the decision though. The case was widely reported in the German press and in Internet forums where one contributor pointed out that Christians shouldn't expect insurance payouts if they have an accident on a Sunday. After all, it is meant to be a day of rest.

Reporting by Yassin Musharbash

[Otto 83]

** Moving topic from OT to Politics & Religion where it may be more appropriate.

[sandinista! 1,816]

anything to get out of paying an insurance claim...

this reminded me of an even nuttier case a few years back in germany, where a german judge refused to grant a muslim woman, who was a german citizen, a quick divorce because her husband was physically abusive. according to the judge, this was supposed to be the norm because they were muslim, so she should just put up with it. nevermind that supposed "muslim norms" are not applicable to german courts, but appallingly ignorant and immoral interpretations of islamic law made the whole thing even crazier. islamically, women are entitled to immediate divorces, as well as financial compensation if their husbands so much as verbally abuse them. what actually happens though is a completely different story most of the time. but it was sad to read that a woman had to go through this sh!t in germany too.

as well, muslim men are in fact responsible for housework, in that if their wives don't want to do it, then it's either up to them to do it, or to pay for someone else to do it. that's not what wives are for. wives are for companionship, intellectually and physically.

[Heracles 417]

Trying to get something for nothing, from a certain group now residing in various western country, is nothing new. Happens all of the time. Like having their eighth kid, yet strangely enough neither parent having worked for 10 plus years.

Edited September 28, 2010 by Heracles

[Jenn! 918]

Imagine that, someone interpreting a religious text to suit their personal agenda.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Trying to get something for nothing, from a certain group now residing in various western country, is nothing new. Happens all of the time. Like having their eighth kid, yet strangely enough neither parent having worked for 10 plus years.

if this insurance covers household help why would he not be entitled to that, same as anyone else living in germany filing that claim? the article doesn't mention anything about kids, much less eight of them. are you getting confused about what's real, and the fictional muslim villains that inhabit your brain?

[Nina~ 431]

Muslim Men don't do housework??

That explains it! My husband must be secretly Muslim

[^_^ 5,021]

... if their wives don't want to do it, then it's either up to them to do it, or to pay for someone else to do it. that's not what wives are for. wives are for companionship, intellectually and physically.

If he hires someone else to do it, does he at least get to have sex with the maid?

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't really see their logic. If Muslim men don't do housework, why can't they hire a maid to do it?

[luckytxn 2,265]

I love Germans.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

if this insurance covers household help why would he not be entitled to that, same as anyone else living in germany filing that claim? the article doesn't mention anything about kids, much less eight of them. are you getting confused about what's real, and the fictional muslim villains that inhabit your brain?

It's his fictional Muslim friends he's referring to.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

There's nothing in the Quran that suggests that men not do housework. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did housework. There's also nothing there to compell Muslim women to do housework. Islamic law requires a husband to provide a maid for wives who wish not to work in the home.

[Heracles 417]

Are you an expert on international countries too now Sofiyya?

It's no coincidence who in particular fills the welfare offices, with eight kids, in various Western countries.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Heracles

[sandinista! 1,816]

If he hires someone else to do it, does he at least get to have sex with the maid?

no, that's haram.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Are you an expert on international countries too now Sofiyya?

It's no coincidence who in particular fills the welfare offices, with eight kids, in various Western countries.

are these observations made during your own personal stints in these offices? and again what is this supposed to have to do with the actual people in the article?