"Many husbands beat their wives thinking that it makes them a bigger man, not because they are bad people," says Dr. Marijam Mahmud, an energetic woman with a bright spirit.
She works for SOS Children's Village, an international non-governmental organization whose goal is to educate Jordanians about domestic violence.
The psychiatrist invites a group of men to her place for a chat over a cup of tea and questions them carefully.
"Would you like your wife to hit you?" she asks casually, before reminding them that wife-beating is against Sharia, Islamic religious law.
What follows is an open conversation about what level of "control" men are allowed to impose on their wives.
"Women go too far if you don't get angry and set boundaries," says one husband.
"And that's why you beat her so she wouldn't do it?" Mahmud asks, quick as lightning.
"Not brutally," he replies.
"What's the difference between a brutal and a non-brutal beating?" she adds, without judgment in her voice.
"A brutal beating leaves evidence, injuries, wounds or cuts," he says.
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"So it's not brutal if you don't smash her head in?" says Dr. Mahmud.
"A slap or two," says the husband.
"Is a slap or two normal, guys?" Dr. Mahmud answers, addressing the entire room.
"We are not against you, Abu Said, we will not put you in jail!", she continues in a joking tone, assuring that he cannot be convicted in this place.
But getting men to own up to their behavior is just the first step in a country where one in four deaths, according to government statistics, are caused by men killing their wives at home.
"He does not fear God"
Another of Dr. Mahmoud Sara's patients (not her real name) describes what made her finally leave her husband after he beat her every day for five years.
"He hit me when I was pregnant. A few months after I gave birth, he hit me again. And all because of a cup of tea. Cups of tea I forgot to make. He almost beat me to death."
She is currently in a safe house with her two young children and is terrified.
"He doesn't fear God, he might as well break in here," says Sarah.
Despite being the first country in the Middle East to establish a special police service to combat domestic violence, in Jordan men still have enormous power over women.
Women who report abuse often risk being disowned by their families or even ending up in prison.
Mason (not her real name) reported Jordan's abusive father to the Family and Juvenile Protection Service at the police department several times.
"The authorities always say, 'That's your father and he's your family, do you really want to leave them,'" says Mason.
"'Just think of our customs and traditions,' they tell me. 'This is not New York for you.'"
Her father was never convicted.
Instead, the family protection team tried to reconcile the family with disastrous consequences for Mason.
"They told me, 'Go back to your family or you'll end up in prison,'" she says.
"I thought they were joking, but when I said, 'Put me in jail,' they really did."
Mason says authorities told her it was for her own safety.
The Family Protection Unit told the BBC that their aim is always "to preserve the family".
"If a woman files a complaint, that doesn't mean we're going to put a man in jail," says one female police officer.
"Our job is to help and offer options to the complainant in accordance with the law."
Mason remained in prison for four years until a social worker from the Jordanian Women's Trade Union Association was able to negotiate Mason's release.
Finally released from prison, she moved into one of only six safe houses in Jordan.
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Legal limbo
But Maysuna's father still had control over her life.
As an unmarried woman in her thirties, Mayuna's father was still able to prevent her from working.
In 2008, Jordan adopted a law on domestic violence and over the years has given the police additional powers.
But the law against domestic violence continues to emphasize the importance of family reconciliation.
And it is often overridden by Sharia-based Personal Status Law, which gives men enormous control over women's lives.
A male "guardian" can legally control a woman's life until she is thirty years old by refusing to let her leave the house.
It is common even for women over 50 to be controlled by male relatives.
Acting as a mediator, Mason's social worker was eventually able to convince her father to sign an agreement allowing Mason independence from her family.
She bursts into tears as she describes how now, for the first time in her life, she can make her own decisions.
"If I hadn't gotten that signature, I would never have been able to leave the safe house, work and be independent," she says.
"My life was on hold because of one signature. That piece of paper is like I won the lottery."
But this is rare progress in a country where there is no government financial support for victims of domestic violence.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that in 2022, half of all women in Jordan stopped working after XNUMX due to societal pressure.
In the country, a woman's most important role is to stay at home, there is not enough organized childcare available, and even public transport is perceived as an unsafe place for women, according to the IMF.
Dr. Mahmoud believes that this economic pressure partly motivates male violence.
"I tell men that I know the economic situation is difficult. I know they're angry about it," she says.
"But that's no excuse. Even if you think your violence is rational, it is unacceptable."
Doctor Mahmud says that such violence can break a woman.
In the sessions with Sara, they spend a lot of time talking to her about how she can start her life over.
It's a long, lonely road for women who are allowed to stay in a safe house for a maximum of six months.
Sarah's husband spent three days in jail for the violent assault, but then accused her of being a prostitute - a serious charge that could cost her the children and end up in prison.
The Family Protection Unit investigated and ultimately dismissed his allegations.
One small victory, but even though she is now free, the threat remains.
"My husband thinks I'm his property. I am afraid that I will become another victim of murder in Jordan."
If you suffer violence or you know someone who suffers from it, call:
- Police 192
- Report of domestic violence 0800100600
- Women's Center SOS telephone against violence against women and children 011 2645328
- SOS telephone for women and children victims of violence (14-18 p.m.) 3626-006
- SOS Children's line "Number for your problem" free and confidential calls 0800123456
- Counseling center for marriage and family 011 2650258, 011 2752224 i 011 2695416
- SOS Center for Youth 011 3192782
- Autonomous Women's Center - SOS phone for support of women victims of violencePhone: 0800 100 007
- Safe house 0800 011 011, 011 2769 466, 062 304 560
- Unique SOS phone for Vojvodina 0800 10 10 10
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