AMMAN, Jordan — A pregnant 15-year-old who had been raped by a brotherin-law decided to marry her attacker, hoping this would shield her from other male relatives who might kill her in the name of “family honor.”
A young woman was taken into protective custody after being stabbed 17 times by a brother who accused her of bringing “shame” to the family for running away from an abusive husband.
Jail, forced marriage or the risk of getting killed by family members — these are some of the harsh choices still faced by victims of abuse or sexual violence in Jordan.
In a key step toward change, the kingdom is now poised to abolish a provision that exempts a rapist from punishment if he marries his victim. Jordan’s parliament is expected to do so in a special session sometime after the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan this week.
Women’s rights advocates say repealing Article 308 would be a victory but that more work lies ahead in a society with deeply rooted customs of patriarchy and a legal system that often goes easy on male perpetrators.
“It’s about the patriarchal mentality in a society that never punishes the man or shames him for anything,” said Asma Khader, a lawyer and activist.
The “marry the rapist” provision has been repealed in Egypt and Morocco but remains on the books in Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Algeria and the Palestinian territories, according to the international group Human Rights Watch.