Help end forced marriage in Lebanon and save innocent girls

Momentum is growing to repeal laws that enable convicted rapists to marry their victims to avoid punishment. As well as the horrors endured by victims, this law means many women and girls where these laws exist are then forced into marriage against their will.

Latifa Basma Mohamad was 19 years old when she was forced to marry the middle-aged man who raped her. “My sister didn’t like the deal, but I assured her, it will be temporary,” her brother said.¹

On August 1, 2017, following a heated debate, the Parliament of Jordan repealed a law that states that if a valid marriage contract is held between the rapist and his victim and the marriage lasts for more than three years, the charges will be dropped.²

Pressure for change is mounting in neighboring Lebanon where a parliamentary vote on abolishing similar laws is anticipated soon. Our partner, women’s rights group KAFA Lebanon and also Abaad, are highlighting the archaic practice of ‘marry your rapist’ laws, including by hanging torn and bloodied wedding dresses along the seaside promenade in Beirut, Lebanon.³ In Jordan, a committee of MPs recommended a similar law should simply be amended; however, 63 organizations came together and campaigned to abolish it in its entirety. By joining together with one powerful voice, civil society succeeded in persuading the government that the only option was to repeal the law.

Let’s achieve the same in Lebanon, where ‘marry your rapist’ legislation contained in the Penal Code encourages the modern slavery practice of forced marriage and forced child marriage.

Whilst there is a wave of momentum building, let’s help repeal these laws that remain in countries as diverse as the Philippines to Tajikistan, but with our effort, not for much longer in Lebanon.⁴

Video credit: KAFA

هنالك مطالبات متنامية لإلغاء القوانين التي تمكن المغتصبين المُدانين الزواج من ضحاياهم لتجنب العقاب. وبالإضافة إلى الأهوال التي يعاني منها الضحايا، فإن هذا القانون يعني أن العديد من النساء والفتيات في البلاد التي ما زالت تعترف بهذه القوانين يجبرن على الزواج ضد إرادتهن من مغتصبهن.

كانت لطيفة بسمة محمد تبلغ من العمر 19 عاما عندما أجبرت على الزواج من رجل في منتصف العمر –مُغتصبها-. و عقّب شقيقها قائلاً: “لم تكن أختي تحب الصفقة، لكني أكدت لها أنها ستكون مؤقتة”

وفي 1 أغسطس / آب، وبعد مناقشة قوية ألغى البرلمان الأردني قانوناً ينص على أنه إذا تم عقد زواج ساري المفعول بين المغتصب وضحيته، واستمر الزواج لأكثر من ثلاث سنوات سيتم إسقاط التهم عن المغتصب.

وتزداد الضغوط من اجل التغيير فى لبنان المجاور حيث يتوقع اجراء تصويت برلمانى على الغاء القوانين المماثلة قريبا. إن شريكنا مجموعة حقوق المرأة كفا لبنان وكذلك أبعاد، يسلطون الضوء على الممارسة القديمة لقوانين “الزواج من المغتصب” بما في ذلك تعليق فساتين الزفاف الممزقة والدموية على طول الكورنيش في بيروت، لبنان.

في الأردن قام عدد من النواب بالتوصية لتعديل قانون مماثل ولكن اجتماع 63 منظمة وحّدوا صوتهم من خلال تنظيم حملة تطالب بإلغاء القانون لا تعديله ، نجح المجتمع المدني في إقناع الحكومة بأن الخيار الوحيد هو إلغاء القانون وهذا ما حصل.

دعونا نحقق نفس الانجاز في لبنان، حيث يشجع قانون “زواج المغتصب” الوارد في قانون العقوبات ممارسة العبودية الحديثة للزواج القسري والزواج القسري للأطفال.

في حين أن هناك موجة من الجهود البنّاءة، دعونا نساعد على إلغاء هذه القوانين التي لا تزال موجودة حتى في بلدان متنوعة مثل الفلبين و طاجيكستان، ولكن مع جهودنا لن تبقى في لبنان أكثر من ذلك.

Notes:

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

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Lucia Mayo

5 years ago

Marrying your rapist should not happen anywhere. Please support campaign to change the law in Lebanon.

Donna Morris

Please help stop this unbelievably cruel practice of rape victims being forced to marry their attacker, prolonging their pain and humiliation. What sort of insane government would allow such a law that protects the rapist and punishes the innocent victim.

James Dunn

The issue is so large and universal that I would like to see a special UN session on the rights and roles of women. James Dunn a former UN designated expert on crimes against humanity.

John

This is 2017 21st Century not 1517 medieval era

altamama

Marry your rapist?? I didn’t even know such a thing existed until a year ago. I can’t think of a worse punishment for the victim than to have to live with that and experience it time and time again.

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Tell Lebanon’s Parliament to repeal 'marry your rapist' laws

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