Lebanon repeals 'marry the rapist' law
Lebanon's parliament has abolished a law which allowed rapists to avoid prison by marrying their victims.
The repeal of the law, which had been in place since the 1940s, follows years of campaigning by women's rights advocates.
Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have cancelled similar "marry the rapist" clauses over the years, and Jordan's parliament recently repealed a similar law.
The clause remains on the books in Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, the Palestinian territories and Syria, as well as several countries in Latin America and in the Philippines and Tajikistan, according to Human Rights Watch.
Conservatives in the Middle East who support such laws argue that marriage salvages the honour of the woman and her family.
The Lebanese law stated that rape is punishable by up to seven years in prison, or more if the victim is mentally or physically disabled.
Article 522 added that if the rapist marries the victim, criminal prosecution is suspended.
Human Rights Watch welcomed the move by Lebanon's parliament but said more should be done to ensure women's rights.
Bassam Khawaja, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: "The repeal of article 522 is an important and overdue step to protect women's rights in Lebanon.
"Parliament should now follow this up by passing pending legislation to end child marriage and marital rape, both of which are still legal in Lebanon."
AP
