Jordan to Remove Marriage Loophole for Rapists

Jordan is set to soon scrap the loophole in the law for rapists. Under Article 308, this law states that the rapists can be pardoned from punishment if they are married with their victim.

The law also states that the rapist had to be married with their victim for at least three years and they could avoid a jail term.

The law had many supporters who claimed that it protected the victim’s honor and reputation. However, women’s activists claim that it is a blasphemy that the women who are raped are forced to marry their attackers.

Rape is something that causes a great deal of trauma in the victims with some even choosing to end their lives. These victims want nothing more than to forget it all and lead a normal life. How will it be possible if they are forced to marry their attackers and can never be able to run away from all of it?

The idea to scrap this law was suggested in February which now has been done by the cabinet.

At the time, the move was welcomed by activist Lailla Naffa as a "dream that has come true," according to the Jordan Times.

However, the cabinet's decision must now be voted through by MPs, and could still be blocked.

Jordan is not the only country with such a law. Even in Lebanon, this law exists which forces the victim to live with their rapists to save honor and pride of their family as well as countries like Philippines, Iraq and Tunisia, according to Equality Now.

After Jordan’s cabinet took steps towards abolishing this particular article, Lebanese activists started their protest in order to do the same. They hung wedding dresses along Beirut’s famous sea front. This protest conveyed a lot in terms of what the victims have to face.