Pakistan delays rape reform plans

[N.O.R.F]

Pakistan delays rape reform plans

 

Pakistan's government has delayed presenting a bill in parliament which would have reformed rape laws.

The bill would for the first time have allowed rapists to be tried under civil law as well as Islamic law.

 

But following complaints from Islamic and secular parties the government says it will now re-draft its proposals to create more of a consensus.

 

Rape is currently dealt with under the Hudood Ordinance, an Islamic law strongly criticised by women's groups.

 

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that the government's attempt to reform rape laws have suffered a setback amid growing controversy.

 

Our correspondent says those political parties which supported the original bill are furious and the Islamic parties are now demanding even more changes.

 

The government had already revised its original draft to satisfy strong opposition from Islamic parties, and critics accused it of rolling back the reforms to make it even harder for women to take action in rape cases.

 

The Hudood Ordinance criminalises all sex outside marriage, so if a rape victim fails to present four male witnesses to the crime she herself could face punishment and prosecuted for adultery.

 

The Hudood Ordinance criminalises all sex outside marriage, so if a rape victim fails to present four male witnesses to the crime she herself could face punishment and prosecuted for adultery.

 

bbc.co.uk

[Naden]

The Hudood Ordinance criminalises all sex outside marriage, so if a rape victim fails to present four male witnesses to the crime she herself could face punishment and prosecuted for adultery.

Four male witnesses? :rolleyes: Just where in the book does it limit the witnesses to men in 4:15?

 

But it revised the bill because of strong opposition from Islamic parties.

Funny how much spirit and energy these Islamic parties are putting into rape legislation.

[HeroOfCanton]

Wow. Pakistan has truly become the dog of the west.