Journalist: Katherine Zoepf
Date: December 18, 2007
Summary: A woman who pressed charges against seven men for raping her was sentenced to 200 lashes. She was recently pardoned. There has been a public debate about the necessity of overhauling the judicial system. This woman apparently met her boyfriend in a public place which is a crime where the legal code is based on interpretation of Islamic law. At that time, she and her boyfriend were attacked and raped. There have been reports that her brother has tried to kill her in order to restore the family’s honor.
Relevance: gender and violence against women on a global level
Questions:
1. What are your reactions and thoughts about the article? Are you surprised by the punishment that is imposed?
2. Do you think that women in developing countries will ever receive equal rights as their male counterparts? Why or why not? What will have to change in order for that to happen?
Here is a link to the article.
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