Women in Morocco are currently protesting to demand the reform of rape laws, especially due to a recent teen's suicide after a judge mandated she marry her alleged rapist. A 16 year old Moroccan girl, Amina Filali, made the decision to drink rat poison after her husband of five months beat her. Her husband was the man that raped her. Due to Article 475 of the Moroccan law that states that a kidnapper, attacker, or rapist of a minor cannot be prosecuted if he marries his victim, Amina was forced to marry her rapist by the say of a judge. In Morocco, as well as many other conservative Islamic countries, society and culture dictate the shame of a rape victim encompasses and greatly effects the status and class of a family. For unmarried virgins, dishonor could be one of the most serious offenses for Moroccan women. If the rape victim marries the rapist, it lessens the problems within the family, primarily associated with culture. Through this Moroccan law, rape becomes legitimized, as well as the marriage of minors.
This specific situation shows a large aspect of gender inequality in Northern Africa and mainly Islamic states. Gender inequality is known to be greatest in these areas, but it is truly amazing to see women stand up for themselves in the way that these Moroccans have. This protest strikes me to show even more importance because of the men that joined up with the women to protest by their sides in front of parliament. A government communications minister has also sided with the women protesting. This inequality mainly stems from cultural beliefs and social views. Due to the dishonor of the Filali family because of the rape, the rest of the family (not including the father, whom wanted the man imprisoned for raping his daughter) agreed to have the marriage with the rapist. These cultural beliefs have caused this inequality, but are slowly being reformed and things today are much better than how they were in the past, but many Islamic countries lack a sense of equality for women.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/17/world/africa/morocco-child-rape/index.html?iref=obinsite
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/amina-al-filali-morocco-rape-suicide-law
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