Pakistan votes to amend rape laws

[Sapphire Blue]

Pakistan votes to amend rape laws

Until now rape cases were dealt with in Sharia courts. Victims had to have four male witnesses to the crime - if not they faced prosecution for adultery.

Now civil courts will be able to try rape cases, assuming the upper house and the president ratify the move.

The reform has been seen as a test of President Musharraf's stated commitment to a moderate form of Islam.

Religious parties boycotted the vote saying the bill encouraged "free sex".

'Lewdness'

A woman is raped every two hours and gang-raped every eight hours in Pakistan, according to the country's independent Human Rights Commission.

Continued @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6148590.stm

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. How positiviely 12th century of them

Granted, it is an improvement over the current 10th century law.