It is difficult enough for women to live in fear of being sexually assaulted, but what is even more terrifying is a country law that gives the rapist a way out of his crime. Lebanon has been under fire for their current rape law which incites that if the rapist marries his victim, he would be exonerated.
It goes without saying that not only does this give the rapist a second chance, it will also force the victim to marry a disgusting human being who would most probably rape her again and again. Getting married will not make the assault go away, neither physically or emotionally.
“There are 31 days in a month and every single day a woman may be raped and forced to marry her rapist,” Alia Awada, advocacy manager from the Lebanese non-governmental organization ABAAD MENA. The organisation has been very active about raising awareness regarding the rape law. “A wedding dress doesn’t cover the rape,” one of their Instagram captions said.
Lebanese activists have been furious over the rape law where Lebanese-born French artist Mireille Honein, started a campaign that involved wedding dresses. The artist came all the way from Paris to design wedding gowns made of wrapping paper and lace, and hung them from nooses on Beirut’s famous seaside promenade.
Activists hope that article 522 will be removed from the penal code at an upcoming session of parliament and are calling for citizens to sign a petition to force the MP to change the rape law. The law was introduced last year and approved by a parliamentary committee in February.
To say the photos on social media is haunting is an understatement!
WE SAID THIS: Rape culture will never end if it’s being supported by governments and laws. Lebanon, get it together.