PAKISTAN: Pakistani Islamists protest against pro-women legislation that takes the crime of rape out of the sphere of religious laws

Thousands of Islamist protesters demonstrated in southern Pakistan on Sunday (December 10) 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. "The people of this country with a keen sense of honour, will never allow a law opposed to Islam, Koran and Islamic jurisprudence. As this country was established in the name of Islam and its slogan and objective was 'What is the meaning of Pakistan, La Ilaha Illal lah (there is no God but Allah), therefore, this system will be enforced. We will not accept a government, any measures, any bill opposed to it," protest leader Mujfti Usman Yaar Khan told the rally. 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.

ITN Source | December 11, 2006

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