1. Home
  2. Slideshows
  3. Nine MENA countries where rapists walk free and victims pay the price

Nine MENA countries where rapists walk free and victims pay the price

Published December 19th, 2016 - 01:24 GMT

In light of the latest controversies in Lebanon and Turkey regarding the law's treatment of sexual attacks against women and minors, Al Bawaba has decided to produce an overview of the different legal rights and penalties in various MENA countries.

It is an unfortunate truth that rape still goes underreported worldwide and very often the blame is placed on the victim, particularly if she is female, rather than the rapist. Too often, the female victim is questioned about her behavior, dress and whereabouts related to the incident before being issued a code of conduct for 'her own safety'. It appears that the behavior of assailant is not scrutinized to the same extent.

There is without a doubt a rape culture permeating the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In a part of the world where the concepts of honor, modesty and virginity are highly prized while shame, immodesty and sexuality can lead to one's undoing - the stakes are high. This added to severe sexual repression and rigid social norms governing interaction between the sexes, has given rise to rife sexual harassment and a cultural obsession with women's virginity.
In such a social system, rape is as harmful if not more to the victim's social standing, bringing shame on the family - regardless of the fact that she was the victim of the attack.

Often, it is more important for the family to restore honor and reputation, than it is to demand justice for the victim. To do so the family will either carry out an honor killing of the victim, or force the victim to marry their rapist. It appears as absolute folly, but as it would seem, honor and reputation apparently trumps the safety, well-being and justice of the victim.
There is no honour in pardoning a rapist, nor is there any honour in sentencing a young girl – or a grown woman – to live in the same house as the man who abused her, to be wed to a man who would do her harm, and to be subject to his will.

Here is a list of the various laws throughout MENA where rapists are protected by a legal loophole that allows them to escape their sentences by marrying their victim.

 

View as a slider
View as a list
Human rights activists campaigned to overturn a law that allowed convicted rapists to escape their sentences if they married their victims. Lebanon has taken its first step in scrapping the outdated statute, article 522 is currently being debated in parliament.

Human rights activists campaigned to overturn a law that allowed convicted rapists to escape their sentences if they married their victims. Lebanon has taken its first step in scrapping the outdated statute, article 522 is currently being debated in parliament.

The Turkish parliament attempted to pass a law that would allow rapists to marry their victims if she was underage. This was met with fierce opposition from Turkish society who protested the bill and had it scrapped.

The Turkish parliament attempted to pass a law that would allow rapists to marry their victims if she was underage. This was met with fierce opposition from Turkish society who protested the bill and had it scrapped.

Although article 308 of the penal code has had the pardon restricted for rape cases where the victim is over 18, the rapist can still escape his sentence if the victim is a minor. This ‘marriage’ would be extremely harmful to the child’s life. A staggering 95 per cent of rapists continue to go unpunished.

Although article 308 of the penal code has had the pardon restricted for rape cases where the victim is over 18, the rapist can still escape his sentence if the victim is a minor. This ‘marriage’ would be extremely harmful to the child’s life. A staggering 95 per cent of rapists continue to go unpunished.

Egypt has a sordid relationship with sexual assault. Rape rates are high, estimated at 200,000 rapes per year, and sexual assault has been used as a weapon against women gathering at political rallies and protests. Marital rape is not criminalized.

Egypt has a sordid relationship with sexual assault. Rape rates are high, estimated at 200,000 rapes per year, and sexual assault has been used as a weapon against women gathering at political rallies and protests. Marital rape is not criminalized.

In 2014, Morocco repealed article 475 of the penal code which gave rapists immunity through marriage. Activists have said that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country. Marital rape has not been criminalised.

In 2014, Morocco repealed article 475 of the penal code which gave rapists immunity through marriage. Activists have said that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country. Marital rape has not been criminalised.

According to article 589 in Syria, a rapist is to be sentenced to 5 years of hard labor but can escape this ‘hefty sentence’ - again, by marrying the victim. More horrifying is the Syrian crisis where rape has been used as a weapon of war and sexual slavery was commonly practiced under Daesh.

According to article 589 in Syria, a rapist is to be sentenced to 5 years of hard labor but can escape this ‘hefty sentence’ - again, by marrying the victim. More horrifying is the Syrian crisis where rape has been used as a weapon of war and sexual slavery was commonly practiced under Daesh.

Too many tourists have often made the unfortunate ‘mistake’ of reporting sexual assault in the Gulf only to find themselves behind bars themselves for charges of extramarital sex.

Too many tourists have often made the unfortunate ‘mistake’ of reporting sexual assault in the Gulf only to find themselves behind bars themselves for charges of extramarital sex.

In Saudi Arabia, the victim is likely to receive a harsher punishment than the rapist, particularly if she violated ‘purdah’ (female seclusion). There is no penal code for rape or marital rape and the sentencing depends entirely on the judge, varying from a light sentence to the death penalty.

In Saudi Arabia, the victim is likely to receive a harsher punishment than the rapist, particularly if she violated ‘purdah’ (female seclusion). There is no penal code for rape or marital rape and the sentencing depends entirely on the judge, varying from a light sentence to the death penalty.

Case in point, the Girl of Qatif: The victim, a 19 year old girl, was gang raped by seven men. After reporting the assault, she was sentenced to 200 lashes and a jail term. The rapists were dealt lighter sentences of five years imprisonment.

Case in point, the Girl of Qatif: The victim, a 19 year old girl, was gang raped by seven men. After reporting the assault, she was sentenced to 200 lashes and a jail term. The rapists were dealt lighter sentences of five years imprisonment.

Human rights activists campaigned to overturn a law that allowed convicted rapists to escape their sentences if they married their victims. Lebanon has taken its first step in scrapping the outdated statute, article 522 is currently being debated in parliament.
The Turkish parliament attempted to pass a law that would allow rapists to marry their victims if she was underage. This was met with fierce opposition from Turkish society who protested the bill and had it scrapped.
Although article 308 of the penal code has had the pardon restricted for rape cases where the victim is over 18, the rapist can still escape his sentence if the victim is a minor. This ‘marriage’ would be extremely harmful to the child’s life. A staggering 95 per cent of rapists continue to go unpunished.
Egypt has a sordid relationship with sexual assault. Rape rates are high, estimated at 200,000 rapes per year, and sexual assault has been used as a weapon against women gathering at political rallies and protests. Marital rape is not criminalized.
In 2014, Morocco repealed article 475 of the penal code which gave rapists immunity through marriage. Activists have said that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country. Marital rape has not been criminalised.
According to article 589 in Syria, a rapist is to be sentenced to 5 years of hard labor but can escape this ‘hefty sentence’ - again, by marrying the victim. More horrifying is the Syrian crisis where rape has been used as a weapon of war and sexual slavery was commonly practiced under Daesh.
Too many tourists have often made the unfortunate ‘mistake’ of reporting sexual assault in the Gulf only to find themselves behind bars themselves for charges of extramarital sex.
In Saudi Arabia, the victim is likely to receive a harsher punishment than the rapist, particularly if she violated ‘purdah’ (female seclusion). There is no penal code for rape or marital rape and the sentencing depends entirely on the judge, varying from a light sentence to the death penalty.
Case in point, the Girl of Qatif: The victim, a 19 year old girl, was gang raped by seven men. After reporting the assault, she was sentenced to 200 lashes and a jail term. The rapists were dealt lighter sentences of five years imprisonment.
Human rights activists campaigned to overturn a law that allowed convicted rapists to escape their sentences if they married their victims. Lebanon has taken its first step in scrapping the outdated statute, article 522 is currently being debated in parliament.
Human rights activists campaigned to overturn a law that allowed convicted rapists to escape their sentences if they married their victims. Lebanon has taken its first step in scrapping the outdated statute, article 522 is currently being debated in parliament.
The Turkish parliament attempted to pass a law that would allow rapists to marry their victims if she was underage. This was met with fierce opposition from Turkish society who protested the bill and had it scrapped.
The Turkish parliament attempted to pass a law that would allow rapists to marry their victims if she was underage. This was met with fierce opposition from Turkish society who protested the bill and had it scrapped.
Although article 308 of the penal code has had the pardon restricted for rape cases where the victim is over 18, the rapist can still escape his sentence if the victim is a minor. This ‘marriage’ would be extremely harmful to the child’s life. A staggering 95 per cent of rapists continue to go unpunished.
Although article 308 of the penal code has had the pardon restricted for rape cases where the victim is over 18, the rapist can still escape his sentence if the victim is a minor. This ‘marriage’ would be extremely harmful to the child’s life. A staggering 95 per cent of rapists continue to go unpunished.
Egypt has a sordid relationship with sexual assault. Rape rates are high, estimated at 200,000 rapes per year, and sexual assault has been used as a weapon against women gathering at political rallies and protests. Marital rape is not criminalized.
Egypt has a sordid relationship with sexual assault. Rape rates are high, estimated at 200,000 rapes per year, and sexual assault has been used as a weapon against women gathering at political rallies and protests. Marital rape is not criminalized.
In 2014, Morocco repealed article 475 of the penal code which gave rapists immunity through marriage. Activists have said that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country. Marital rape has not been criminalised.
In 2014, Morocco repealed article 475 of the penal code which gave rapists immunity through marriage. Activists have said that much more remained to be done to promote gender equality, outlaw child marriage and protect women from violence in the North African country. Marital rape has not been criminalised.
According to article 589 in Syria, a rapist is to be sentenced to 5 years of hard labor but can escape this ‘hefty sentence’ - again, by marrying the victim. More horrifying is the Syrian crisis where rape has been used as a weapon of war and sexual slavery was commonly practiced under Daesh.
According to article 589 in Syria, a rapist is to be sentenced to 5 years of hard labor but can escape this ‘hefty sentence’ - again, by marrying the victim. More horrifying is the Syrian crisis where rape has been used as a weapon of war and sexual slavery was commonly practiced under Daesh.
Too many tourists have often made the unfortunate ‘mistake’ of reporting sexual assault in the Gulf only to find themselves behind bars themselves for charges of extramarital sex.
Too many tourists have often made the unfortunate ‘mistake’ of reporting sexual assault in the Gulf only to find themselves behind bars themselves for charges of extramarital sex.
In Saudi Arabia, the victim is likely to receive a harsher punishment than the rapist, particularly if she violated ‘purdah’ (female seclusion). There is no penal code for rape or marital rape and the sentencing depends entirely on the judge, varying from a light sentence to the death penalty.
In Saudi Arabia, the victim is likely to receive a harsher punishment than the rapist, particularly if she violated ‘purdah’ (female seclusion). There is no penal code for rape or marital rape and the sentencing depends entirely on the judge, varying from a light sentence to the death penalty.
Case in point, the Girl of Qatif: The victim, a 19 year old girl, was gang raped by seven men. After reporting the assault, she was sentenced to 200 lashes and a jail term. The rapists were dealt lighter sentences of five years imprisonment.
Case in point, the Girl of Qatif: The victim, a 19 year old girl, was gang raped by seven men. After reporting the assault, she was sentenced to 200 lashes and a jail term. The rapists were dealt lighter sentences of five years imprisonment.

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
Subscribe Now
Loading content ...