Morocco to change law allowing rape marriage

[Last Stand]

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Nearly a year after Morocco was shocked by the suicide of a 16-year-old girl who was forced to marry her alleged rapist, the government has announced plans to change the penal code to outlaw the traditional practice.

Women’s rights activists on Tuesday welcomed Justice Minister Mustapha Ramid’s announcement, but said it was only a first step in reforming a penal code that doesn’t do enough to stop violence against women in this North African kingdom.

A paragraph in Article 475 of the penal code allows those convicted of ‘‘corruption’’ or ‘‘kidnapping’’ of a minor to go free if they marry their victim and the practice was encouraged by judges to spare family shame.

Last March, 16-year-old Amina al-Filali poisoned herself to get out of a seven-month-old abusive marriage to a 23-year-old she said had raped her. Her parents and a judge had pushed the marriage to protect the family honor. The incident sparked calls for the law to be changed.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middle-east/2013/01/23/morocco-change-law-allowing-rape-marriage/42GX9M4v4VB9WjLSN3bYFN/story.html?camp=obnetwork

[wolfchild]

1. Well, they'd better...

I know they have a different culture there, but rape-marriage is just sick and unhumane. As a woman, I can't even begin to imagine what that poor girl went through. I hope she gets some sort of justice.

[dsc]

3. Not so different

In NC a boy who had been raped by an adult woman is now married to the adult with the permission of his mother and now no case of rape since he can't testify against her.

[BainsBane]

2. Don't let the GOP hear about this law

It will give them ideas for dealing with American women.