Government rejects plea to scrap Article 353

Manama : The Government has rejected a parliamentary proposal to remove a clause from the Kingdom’s Penal Code that allows rapists to evade punishment by marrying their victims.

In its reply to the proposal, the government rejected to completely scrap the Article, but agreed to amend it, stating that it should not be considered in case more than one suspect is involved in an incident.

Originally submitted by MP Mohammed Al Maarifi, the proposal, which was passed by the majority of legislators, stipulated scrapping Article 353 of the Penal Code to plug the legal loophole that allows rapists to evade law.

According to the MPs, the Article apparently provides an escape route for the perpetrators of the crime and allows them some sort of impunity. It states that the rapist would be spared the punishment, in case the victim agrees to marry the perpetrator of the crime. The Article mentions that even if the defendant was found guilty by the court, all charges against him shall be dropped, in case the victim accepted to marry the assailant.

 “The punishment shouldn’t be dropped in case more than one person is involved. Therefore, the Article should be amended to not include more than one defendant, ” the government’s reply said.

The reply will be discussed and voted during the next House of Representatives’ weekly session on Tuesday.