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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Maldivian Rape Victim To Receive 100 Lashes

While the rich enjoy the island pleasures of the exclusively Muslim Maldives (no religious freedom there), young rape victims are sentenced to floggings for having sex outside of marriage.

A 15-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather, will receive 100 lashes, even though prosecutors have said the sentence had nothing to do with the rape case.

 Zaima Nasheed, a spokesperson for the juvenile court, said the girl was also ordered to remain under house arrest at a children's home for eight months.
She defended the punishment, saying the girl had willingly committed an act outside of the law.

Apparently she did have consensual sex with another individual, and the flogging is for that sexual liaison.

The lucky girl does have a choice when she gets flogged. Either when she officially turns 18, or sooner if she so chooses.

The stepdad has yet to be brought to trial, even though he allegedly raped her and then murdered their baby. He could get 25 years for rape and murder. And the mother could be prosecuted for not reporting the abuse.

According to Amnesty International's Ahmed Faiz, this is not an isolated case:

"This is not the only case. It is happening frequently - only last month there was another girl who was sexually abused and sentenced to lashes."
He said he did not know when the punishment was last carried out as people were not willing to discuss it openly.


That 16-year-old received lashes in a public flogging, while her boyfriend got 10 years.

Faiz wants the government to abolish this form of punishment, although it has condemned the sentence and asked for leniency.

Sources: BBC, Sky News

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