Violence against women

Dubai: Alleged victim of gang rape sentenced to one year in prison

The Criminal Court of Abu Dhabi, in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, ruled this week that an 18-year-old Emirati woman who accused six men of gang-raping her will herself serve a one-year sentence for consensual sex. It's one of in the latest in a scourge of reported rape cases in Dubai, The court proceedings were marred by legal travesties, experts say. While the plaintiff was not granted a lawyer, the defendants were. Moreover, the plaintiff could not have any family members present with her during the trial, the court decided. The prosecution also argued that simply because the plaintiff agreed to enter the police officer's car, this action somehow constituted partial consent to sex, The National reported.

Malaysia: Increase in marriages involving underage Muslims in the Federal Territory

THERE was an increase in marriages involving underage Muslims in the Federal Territory last year. This goes against the assumption that child marriages are now on the decline due to changing cultural trends. Last year, 49 Muslim girls under 16 years of age and 39 boys under 18 tied the knot. According to the statistics provided by the Federal Territory Religious Department, this number was higher compared with the previous year.

Somalia: Family of 17-Year-Old Girl Abuses Her for Leaving Islam

The Muslim parents of a 17-year-old Somali girl who converted to Christianity severely beat her for leaving Islam and have regularly shackled her to a tree at their home for more than a month, Christian sources said. Nurta Mohamed Farah of Bardher, Gedo Region in southern Somalia, has been confined to her home since May 10, when her family found out that she had embraced Christianity, said a Christian leader who visited the area. “When the woman’s family found out that she converted to Christianity, she was beaten badly but insisted on her new-found religion,” said the source on condition of anonymity.

Nigeria: Ondo State government removes ruler of Akure Kingdom for beating up wife

After five years of controversial rule as the paramount ruler of Akure Kingdom , the Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju, Osupa III was yesterday deposed by the Ondo State government for beating up his estranged wife, Bolanle, in the street.

Malaysia: Documentory on Kartika's protest at whipping sentence

One thing is really clear about Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor in the video Mencari Kartika, produced and directed by Norhayati Kaprawi: Kartika, who was sentenced to be whipped, fined and imprisoned for drinking beer because she was a Muslim, was angry at the syariah system that had sentenced her. It is a startling revelation, because nowhere in media reports does the public ever have a sense of how angry she was.

UN: Special Rapporteur on VAW releases 2010 report

UN Special Rapporteur Rahisda Manjoo has published a thirty four page report on violence again women its causes and consequences. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur requested invitations to visit Somalia, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe. Earlier requests for country visits had also been made to the Governments of Jordan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Special Rapporteurs typically send a letter to the Government requesting to visit the country, and, if the Government agrees, an invitation to visit is extended. Some countries have issued "standing invitations", which means that they are, in principle, prepared to receive a visit from any special procedures mandate holder.

كردستان العراق: الفتيات والنساء يعانين من مضاعفات تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية

(إربيل،) - قالت هيومن رايتس ووتش في تقرير أصدرته اليوم إن أعداد كبيرة من الفتيات والنساء في إقليم كردستان العراق يعانين من تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية وما لهذه الممارسة من آثار مدمرة. وقالت هيومن رايتس ووتش إن على حكومة إقليم كردستان أن تتحرك على الفور لوضع حد لممارسة تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية ولإعداد خطة طويلة الأجل للقضاء على هذه الممارسة، بما في ذلك إصدار قانون لحظر تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية. تقرير "أخذوني ولم يخبروني بشيء: تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية في كردستان العراق" الذي جاء في 73 صفحة، يوثق تجارب الفتيات الصغيرات والنساء اللاتي تعرضن لتشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية، على خلفية تلقي رسائل متعارضة مربكة من بعض القيادات الدينية والعاملين بالرعاية الصحية بشأن مشروعية وسلامة هذه الممارسة. ويصف التقرير حالة الألم والخوف التي تتعرض لها الفتيات والنساء الشابات أثناء العملية، والآثار المروعة على صحتهن النفسية والبدنية. ويقول التقرير إن الحكومة الإقليمية لم تبد الاستعداد لحظر تشويه الأعضاء التناسلية الأنثوية، رغم استعدادها للتصدي لأشكال العنف الأخرى ضد المرأة، ومنها العنف الأسري وما يُدعى "جرائم الشرف".

Iraqi Kurdistan: HRW Report: FGM perpetuated by women who want best for their children

While internationally recognized as a form of violence against women and girls, the tragedy is that female genital mutilation is perpetuated by mothers, aunts and other women who love and want the best for their children, who see the practice as ensuring that girls are marriageable, are conforming to the tenets of Islam, and are growing up to be respectable and respected members of Kurdish society.

Iran: SKSW/WLUML Statement on planned stoning to death of young mother in East Azerbaijan Province

The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women and the International Solidarity Network, Women Living Under Muslim Laws urge all concerned to immediately contact the Iranian officials to express their concern over the planned stoning to death of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani. On 15 May 2006, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani was convicted of having an ‘illicit relationship’ with two men and was sentenced to 99 lashes by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Osku, in East Azerbaijan Province. Then, in a September 2006 trial of a man accused of murdering her husband, Mohammadi-Ashtiani was once again accused of committing ‘fornication while married’. During this trial, Mohammadi-Ashtiani retracted the ‘confession’ she supposedly made during pre-trial interrogation, alleging that she had been coerced to confess under duress, and declared her innocence. Two of the five judges found her not guilty, pointing to the lack of evidentiary proof in the case against her, and noting that she had already suffered 99 lashes due to her previous sentencing. Even though double jeopardy is illegal in Iran, the other three judges, including the presiding judge, found Sakineh guilty on the basis of the ‘judge’s intuition’, a provision in Iranian law that allows judges to make their own subjective and arbitrary rulings based on a ‘gut feeling’, even in the absence of clear or conclusive evidence. Mohammadi-Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stoning on 10 September 2006.

Sénégal: Le silence met les filles en danger

La sécurité des filles dépend de la volonté des familles à parler des violences sexuelles, ont dit des chercheurs en Casamance, dans le sud du Sénégal, lors de la publication d’une étude révélant l’étendue des violences à l’égard des filles âgées de 10 à 13 ans. Cette étude, réalisée par le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF) et l’université de Ziguinchor, a constaté qu’à Kolda, Sédhiou et Ziguinchor, les pressions familiales, sociales et culturelles étaient source de silence et d’impunité.