making a point about islam?

The March 22nd NY Times article "German Judge Cites Koran, Stirring Up Cultural Storm" discusses the ruling made by a German judge (a woman, which may or may not be relevant) that a Muslim man can be allowed to beat his wife in Germany. The article seemed to be accusing the judge of an excess of cultural sensitivity, but could it not be that the opposite is in fact true? The judge could be making a point about the unassimilability of Muslims in German society and ruled in this fashion to publicize the barbarism she perceives in Islamic law.