BEIRUT: Twelve women wearing torn white dresses and red-stained bandages held a silent protest Tuesday in Downtown Beirut over a controversial law that allows rapists to avoid conviction if they marry their victim.
The protest in Downtown Beirut's Riad al-Solh comes one day before the Administration and Justice Committee is scheduled to meet to decide whether to abolish or modify article 522.
Article 522 of Lebanon's penal code states that authorities shall not pursue or prosecute an accused rapist, and will overturn the sentence of a convicted rapist if he or she marries the victim.
The protest was held to press lawmakers to abolish, rather than amend the article, which they said protects rapists.
The demonstrators held three large banners calling for the demolition of the law, one of which read "Yes to the cancellation of the article 522."
The act was organized by local NGO ABAAD as a part of a campaign called “A White Dress Doesn’t Cover Rape.”
Lawmakers will discuss a bill proposing the annulment of the law, which MP Elie Keyrouz referred to Speaker Nabih Berri in July.
The protest in Downtown Beirut's Riad al-Solh comes one day before the Administration and Justice Committee is scheduled to meet to decide whether to abolish or modify article 522.
Article 522 of Lebanon's penal code states that authorities shall not pursue or prosecute an accused rapist, and will overturn the sentence of a convicted rapist if he or she marries the victim.
The protest was held to press lawmakers to abolish, rather than amend the article, which they said protects rapists.
The demonstrators held three large banners calling for the demolition of the law, one of which read "Yes to the cancellation of the article 522."
The act was organized by local NGO ABAAD as a part of a campaign called “A White Dress Doesn’t Cover Rape.”
Lawmakers will discuss a bill proposing the annulment of the law, which MP Elie Keyrouz referred to Speaker Nabih Berri in July.
Source & Link : The Daily Star
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