Jordan Repeals Law that Gives Immunity to Rapists

Maureen Collins | August 1, 2017
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The lower house in the Jordanian parliament on Tuesday repealed a law that gave rapists immunity if they married their victims. 

The change came after a strong lobbying effort by a women's rights group named Abaad. The group ran billboards featuring bloody wedding dresses and the slogan, "A white dress doesn't cover up rape."

Under Sharia law, any sexual contact outside of marriage is considered dishonoring for a woman, even if that contact is coerced or forced through rape. As a remedy, women are encouraged to marry their attackers in order to "re-gain" their honor. 

The unimaginable terror felt by these victims is rarely made known to the outside world. Maya Ammar of Kafa, a Lebanese group for victims of domestic violence, said "These cases are not discussed in public. They all happen in silence."

"This is a victory for the women's movement and human rights movement in Jordan," Salma Nims, the secretary general of Jordan's National Commission for Women told the press.

The repeal vote was also a victory for women's rights groups like Abaad who have been campaigning across the Middle East to end the so-called "marry-the-rapist" laws. A repeal of a similar law in Lebanon is also expected this Summer

In 2014, Morocco repealed their marry-the-rapist immunity law, and Bahrain repealed its version last year. Unfortunately, "marry-the-rapist laws" are still on the books in many Muslim countries, including Libya, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Tunisia

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