法國今年將實施一部新法，已婚夫妻或者同居伴侶之間如果有惡語相向等“心理暴力”行為將會受到法律制裁。對于伴侶的外貌反復污辱評價、誣陷伴侶不忠以及暴力威脅等行為均在該法規定的罪名之列。據悉，這部法律是由法國總理提議頒布的，意在保護那些深受家庭暴力之苦的女性，當然，家庭中受到妻子言辭辱罵的男性也可以利用這部法律來保護自己。不過，有專家卻表示，這部法律的出臺只是賺取噱頭，沒有可能實施，而且政府也不應該干涉家庭內部爭端，這樣只會讓警察和法院的工作量驟增。

Married couples could be arrested and charged for insulting each other under a new law in France banning 'psychological violence'.

Married couples could be arrested and charged for insulting each other under a new law in France banning 'psychological violence'.

The proposed legislation would punish partners who 'overstep the mark' during verbal spats in the home.

The law would apply to husbands and wives, as well as cohabiting couples.

It is expected to cover every kind of slur from repeated rude remarks about a partner's appearance, false allegations of infidelity and threats of physical violence.

Police are being urged to issue a caution in the first instance of a reported crime, but repeat offenders could face a fine, electronic tagging or jail.

The law, being put forward by the prime minister, Francois Fillon, is aimed at protecting women who are the main victims of abuse in the home.

But men would also have the right to report their wives for verbal abuse.

Mr Fillon said: "It's an important move forward as the creation of this offence will let us tackle the most insidious situations, the ones that leave no physical scars but which still injure the victims inside."

But some experts have called the law a gimmick that will be impossible to enforce, and that the government should not interfere in non-violent domestic squabbles.

Anne Giraud, a psychologist, said: "Squabbling couples will allege all kinds of things about each other, but they won't necessarily be true.

"The police are likely to be called out more and more when this law comes into force this year, but often it will be a case of one person's word against the other.

"Psychological violence is a very serious matter, but punishing it through the courts is a very different matter altogether."

Pierre Bonnet, a sociologist, added: "Next they will be making rudeness a crime, and the police and courts will be overrun with work."

In 2008, 157 French women and seven French men were killed by their spouses or partners, with hundreds more injured in outbursts of domestic violence. Mr Fillon said the new law had the support of the majority of the government and could come into force within six months.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）