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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Pakistan votes to amend rape laws | Pakistan votes to amend rape laws |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's national assembly has voted to amend the country's strict Sharia laws on rape and adultery. | Pakistan's national assembly has voted to amend the country's strict Sharia laws on rape and adultery. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The reform has been seen as a test of President Musharraf's stated commitment to a moderate form of Islam. |
| "It is a historic bill because it will give rights to women and help end excesses against them," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told parliament after the vote. | |
| Religious parties boycotted the vote, saying the bill encouraged "free sex". | |
| 'Lewdness' | '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. | A woman is raped every two hours and gang-raped every eight hours in Pakistan, according to the country's independent Human Rights Commission. |
| The bill will turn Pakistan into a free-sex zone MMA leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman Rape victim's blog Send us your comments | The bill will turn Pakistan into a free-sex zone MMA leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman Rape victim's blog Send us your comments |
| Correspondents say these figures are probably an under-estimation as many rapes are not reported. | Correspondents say these figures are probably an under-estimation as many rapes are not reported. |
| Campaigners say Pakistan's laws have made it virtually impossible to prosecute rape. | Campaigners say Pakistan's laws have made it virtually impossible to prosecute rape. |
| Attempts to pass a new bill failed in September in the face of angry opposition. | |
| The version of the Women's Protection Bill put before legislators then caused such an outcry that parliament was prorogued. | The version of the Women's Protection Bill put before legislators then caused such an outcry that parliament was prorogued. |
| It would have allowed alleged rapists to be tried under civil as well as Islamic law. | It would have allowed alleged rapists to be tried under civil as well as Islamic law. |
| Gen Musharraf has said women need to be better protected | |
| Human rights activists said this would have created confusion, allowing powerful religious lobbies to manipulate what is seen as a weak judicial system. | Human rights activists said this would have created confusion, allowing powerful religious lobbies to manipulate what is seen as a weak judicial system. |
| Pakistan's religious parties called the legislation "a harbinger of lewdness and indecency in the country", and against the strictures of the Koran and Sharia law. | Pakistan's religious parties called the legislation "a harbinger of lewdness and indecency in the country", and against the strictures of the Koran and Sharia law. |
| They have threatened nationwide protests over the revised bill. | They have threatened nationwide protests over the revised bill. |
| Addressing parliament on Wednesday, the leader of the six-party MMA Islamic alliance, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, said the bill would "turn Pakistan into a free-sex zone". | Addressing parliament on Wednesday, the leader of the six-party MMA Islamic alliance, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, said the bill would "turn Pakistan into a free-sex zone". |
| "Existing laws are correct and should be maintained... The changes are not in line with Islamic teaching." | |
| The government insisted that some of the MMA's proposals had been included in the bill. | |
| Lashings | Lashings |
| Rape and adultery in Pakistan are dealt with under the Hudood Ordinance, a controversial set of Islamic laws introduced from 1979 by Gen Zia-ul-Haq. | Rape and adultery in Pakistan are dealt with under the Hudood Ordinance, a controversial set of Islamic laws introduced from 1979 by Gen Zia-ul-Haq. |
| They include sections prescribing lashing and stoning as punishments for adultery. | They include sections prescribing lashing and stoning as punishments for adultery. |
| The bill tabled in the summer and withdrawn was then reviewed by a panel of ulema, or Islamic scholars, who suggested three revisions. | The bill tabled in the summer and withdrawn was then reviewed by a panel of ulema, or Islamic scholars, who suggested three revisions. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says how parliament voted on Wednesday is also being seen as an indication of what political alliances might contest elections next year. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says how parliament voted on Wednesday is also being seen as an indication of what political alliances might contest elections next year. |