Lebanon’s parliament consigns 1940s rape law to history

Lebanon’s parliament yesterday abolished a law that allowed rapists to avoid punishment by marrying their victims.

“The repeal of article 522 is an important and overdue step to protect women’s rights in Lebanon,” said Bassam Khawaja, the Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Parliament should now follow this up by passing pending legislation to end child marriage and marital rape, both of which are still legal.”

Lebanese activists campaigned for years to change the law, which was in place since the 1940s.

“This was a great victory for not just all women, but everyone residing in Lebanon. It’s a small step, but a great victory in achieving gender equality,” said Saja Michaels, a member of Abaad, an organisation concerned with gender equality.

Abaad launched a campaign last year to repeal the law. The move had been expected since this year after public figures, including prime minister Saad Hariri, supported repeal.

But Ms Michaels said the group would continue working at grassroots level. “Policy change is very important but if this policy is not being implemented it’s not enough.

“Education is part of it, but also changing the honour culture relating to sexual violence, and the way families and communities are involved.” The lower house of Jordan’s parliament voted this month to scrap a similar law.

Some MPs argued that an amended version was needed to protect rape victims against social stigma by giving them the marriage option. But in the end, MPs voted in line with the government to repeal the law.