The Divorce Movement said today that domestic violence was one of the main reasons why divorce legislation should be introduced in Malta.

Former Nationalist Minister Michael Falzon, speaking for the movement said at a press conference that such violence did not constitute a reason for marriage annulment in the eyes of the Church.

A quarter of Maltese women experienced some form of domestic violence, according to published reports.

While the state agency Appogg helped victims of domestic violence, divorce was needed to give such people the opportunity to get out of their oppressive relationship and start afresf, Mr Falzon said.

Mr Falzon hit out at arguments by the anti-divorce camp that domestic violence was not a reason for divorce because it gave the abuser the opportunity to remarry. One couldnot punish the victim in order to punish the abuser, Mr Falzon said.

He also protested over how the anti-divorce movement had translated 'no-fault divorce' into divorzu bla raguni  saying that it implied that one ended a marriage capriciously.