The confederation of women’s organisations yesterday expressed bewilderment at how provocation had been cited as an excuse to justify battering.

“No one, least of all men, have a right to cite provocation to justify acts of violence. Violence is condemned for whatever reason and is excused neither by alcohol, drug taking or psychological provocation,” it said.

The Times on Wednesday reported how former MP Josie Muscat sparked outrage at a forum when he suggested beaten women often goaded their aggressors into violence. The federation did not refer to the report in its statement.

It noted that the goal of battering and violence was for the perpetrator to gain power and control over his victim, and that women were the victims in 85 per cent of reported cases of domestic violence.

Aditus, a human rights organisation, was equally scathing of Dr Muscat’s comments, which it said minimised a very serious violation of a person’s physical and psychologi-cal integrity.

It urged zero tolerance of domestic violence in any form.