Pakistani Islamists protest against pro-women law

[Ban Hammer 14,303]

KARACHI (Reuters) - Thousands of Islamist protesters demonstrated in southern Pakistan on Sunday against a new law that reduces the burden of proof on rape victims by allowing them to seek justice without the need for four male witnesses.

The Women Protection Bill, signed into law last month, was seen as a key test for President Pervez Musharraf's philosophy of "enlightened moderation" for his predominantly Muslim country.

The protest in the country's biggest city of Karachi came a day after Musharraf ruled out any changes to the law despite calls from the Islamists.

Some 10,000 supporters of the Islamist parties, most of them bearded, chanted slogans of "Down with Musharraf" and "Down with the Women Protection Law" at the rally and demanded the government scrap the law.

The law takes the crime of rape out of the sphere of the religious laws, known as the Hudood Ordinances, and puts it under the penal code.

Under the Hudood Ordinances, which were introduced by a military ruler in 1979, a rape victim had to produce four male witnesses to prove the crime, or face the possibility of prosecution for adultery.

"We reject this law because it is unIslamic and also against women rights," Fazal-ur-Rehman, a senior leader of the main Islamist alliance and opposition leader in the National Assembly, parliament's lower house, told the rally.

Rehman said the law is a conspiracy to make Pakistan a "free sex zone".

"It is a fight between the liberals and the religious believers... and we will continue our protest against this unIslamic law," he said.

Controversy over the reform of Islamic laws has highlighted a long struggle between progressives and religious conservatives over the direction of Pakistani society.

Women's groups have called for the total repeal of the Islamic laws, which still ban sex outside marriage and stipulate that women adulterers can be stoned to death. But they have hailed the new law, saying it would help mitigate sufferings of thousands of women.

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[hafiz 1]

Women's groups have called for the total repeal of the Islamic laws, which still ban sex outside marriage and stipulate that women adulterers can be stoned to death. But they have hailed the new law, saying it would help mitigate sufferings of thousands of women.

the bolded point is what is being asked of. not the whole stoning and this and that. people just want to have sex, i dont understand, just let them have sex. what the heck lol. next step sex with dogs, i cant wait.

[hafiz 1]

this whole fight is not about islam and non islam, its about sex, people want to have sex, let them have sex. thats it. people in pakistan who dont follow islam still abuse their women. so the problem is not the religion its the whole culture over there. its just plain bad. the people who care about women, treat them with respect, do it regardless of whether they are religious or non religious, muslim or not muslim.

[hafiz 1]

3 words

SEX SEX SEX, say it loud and proud.

[pedroh 21]

so u're ok with the old law, that women needed 4 witnesses for rape and still 'was their fault'.. not the rapist's

[hafiz 1]

no i am not but its not about that, its about sex, its about the right of women to have sex. thats all.

[hafiz 1]

God damn it i was looking for ric flair's thread and look where have i landed. Peace out i am gone from this. sorry if i have offended anyone lol.

[munchkins 1]

So the poor woman has to have FOUR MALE witness's to this offence, over here that would probably be called a gang bang, can't win can she 'bout time they came into the 21st century and stopped trying to keep people in the dark ages

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Note for Charles: the old hudood laws were actually formulated to protect military personnel from rape charges (especially when in a high percentage of the military--89,000 out of about 370,000 as of 1979--were actually guilty of such crimes during "Operation Searchlight"). Some goonda-mullahs (even those who had never been active mil personnel) naturally also hid behind the same laws.

Basically, the protest is to retain the status-quo where the abovementioned goonda-mullahs (many of whom are just as guilty as the "Searchlight" personnel of such crimes--though in the mullahs' case, in post-1971 Pakistan not Bangladesh)--as it is quite noticeable that these were the organisers of the protests (possibly some of the original 89,000 mil personnel, now retired were in the protesting crowds?).