Jordan – Women and human rights activists and representatives of civil society organizations protested in front of the House of Representatives today to demand the complete abolition of Article 308 of the Penal Code, which pardons rapists on the condition that they marry the victim.Participants gathered before the parliaments morning session to discuss amendments to the penal code. Participants held banners expressing their rejection of this article, which contradicts the essence of the penal code, the article pardons the rapist and does not protect the victim. Some of the slogans said 308 protect the rapist, Protect the innocent children abolish 308 and 308 stigma in the Jordanian justice system. Young girls should be in schools. In April, the repeal of the article was approved by Jordan’s cabinet, following recommendations from a royal committee. At that stage, the House of Representatives referred the amended penal code for review by a legal committee. Instead of supporting the government’s calls for the complete removal of the law, the committee advised that the article be kept with some changes such as raping a minor or deceiving a virgin with marriage, which was rejected by human rights activists. Protestors then headed the discussions of the penal code, including the amendment of Article 98 of the law as the amendments provided the annulment of the benefits to reduce penalties except in cases where article 340 applies. A step considered by womens organizations a positive step in providing greater protection for women. . The womens activists also met with a number of deputies who expressed their support for the request to cancel Article 308. The vigil had preceded the launch of awareness campaigns on social media to show the position of human rights towards the article.
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