Forced to marry her rapist
When Lubna was 14, she was top of her class and her parents hoped she’d grow up to become a doctor. Instead, she was raped by her cousin, and then forced to marry him by a law designed to “protect her family's honor.”
The law also let her rapist off without punishment. Scot-free.
In just 24 hours, Jordanian lawmakers could scrap this law, but a few conservative MPs are looking to keep it alive. Let’s quickly build a massive petition telling them this law's got to go. Our voices will be delivered directly inside Parliament during their debate!
No one should be forced to marry their rapist. Click to sign now.
In Morocco, when Amina Filali killed herself after being forced to marry her rapist, the Avaaz community whipped up a massive global campaign along with a women-powered demonstration outside of parliament, and the law was repealed.
Now if we win this in Jordan, we can strengthen this domino effect and take it to the 7 other countries that still allow rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims. Together we are building a fierce movement that helps protect women from Morocco to Iraq.
Jordan enjoys a positive global reputation. Thrusting them in the spotlight like this could force them to act, and the best part is: they already want to do this! It's just a few members of parliament whose voices we need to drown out.
Hundreds of women are raped in Jordan each year. As long as men know they can get away with it, those numbers will never come down. Let's end this now. Add your name and share this widely:
No one should be forced to marry their rapist. Click to sign now.
With hope,
Rewan, Andrew, Jenny, Mike, Mohammad, Emma and the entire Avaaz team
More information:
Heated debate over Article 308 expected as House panel has change of heart (Jordan Times)
One by One, Marry-Your-Rapist Laws Are Falling in the Middle East (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/world/middleeast/marry-your-rapist-laws-middle-east.html
Jordan on the brink of repealing law allowing rapists to marry their victims to escape punishment (Independent)