Law allowing Rapists Marry Victims to avoid Punishment repealed in Jordan

Jordan King Abdullah II

The Lower House of Parliament in Jordan has on Tuesday, repealed a law that allowed rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims.

A royal committee had suggested abolishing the controversial Article 308 in February, among its several recommendation to amend the country’s 1960 penal code.

Earlier on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch called on lawmakers to remove the article “to strengthen the rule of law and end impunity for violence against women.’’

In July, Tunisia’s parliament scrapped a similar provision in its penal code while Morocco and Egypt have also removed similar laws.

According to HRW, other countries in the region that retained similar provisions include Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Palestine, and Syria.

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