INCEST: Murder of the Soul: Chapter Three within the Arab world. Al-Heideri highlights three forms of persecution practiced against women22 : 1. Qualitative persecution: based on supremacy and dominance of men over women to achieve their private and public interests. This leads to the suppression of women’s individual personalities, undermines their social role and represses their behavior, prohibiting integration and synergy between the sexes. 2. Patriarchal persecution-masculine: this kind of persecution manifests itself through men’s domination over women in the family, society and authority. This domination is expressed through male control over females, and father’s control over mother and children in an irrational manner that necessitates their submission and blind obedience; a boy would control a girl, even if she is older and more intelligent than him. 3. Legal persecution: derived from patriarchal persecution, which reflects itself in man- made laws and customs which in turn persecute women’s social, economic and political rights, impeding their development and progress towards equality with men. Al-Heideri also believes that persecution of women is not due to biological, religious or psychological factors; contrary to that, it is due to class, and social and masculine values stem from men’s interest in controlling women and subjecting them to their will. This is the core of gender inequality and eternal conflict between both men and women23. Despite the developments many Arab societies have experienced, there still is a dominant patriarchal system. The changes that have taken place within the patriarchal structure of the Arab family system are generally superficial in content, and so the core was not affected. What might have been affected was the shape and social cultural role of the family. These changes have not influenced the internal relationship of the family. In fact, violence against the marginalized categories of society for the benefit of the powerful in terms of economic, social and political conflict continues24. Modern developments the Arab World witnessed were first and foremost beneficial for men, giving them new opportunities and allowing them to exclusively enjoy freedoms and exercise their domination within the different economic, social, cultural, political and legal levels. However, women have not received the opportunity for sufficient education and employment to actualize themselves and change the balance of power in a more equitable way, and so the gap between spouses and members of the family increased, leading to tense relationships governed by power, control and exploitation, which in turn 22 al-Heideri, 2010. “Patriarchal Society and Its Impact on the Family, Society and Authority”, electronic magazine Elaph (London; 1-10-2012). 23 al-Heideri, 2010. “Patriarchal Society and Its Impact on the Family, Society and Authority”, electronic magazine Elaph (London; 1-10-2012) and Salim and al-Bazri and others, 1999.Arab Woman between Reality and Liberty Aspiration. 24 . al-Heideri, 2010 .“Patriarchal Society and Its Impact on the Family, Society and Authority”, electronic magazine Elaph (London; 1-10-2012). 21