You know, sometimes you have to remind yourself that it is the year 2011...especially when you are dealing with islamic countries. In Pakistan, the legislature there has decided on much tougher penalties for throwing acid in someone's face - but they don't mention that for decades and decades the penalties were almost non-existent. And the shocking part of this is that there are around 200 of these incidents each and every year.
From the report at DAWN:
Pakistani lawmakers have adopted tougher penalties for acid attacks in a step towards eradicating a form of violence that can disfigure around 200 women a year, campaigners said Wednesday.
Those convicted of one of the most brutal gender crimes can now be jailed for between 14 years and life, and fined a minimum of one million rupees ($11,750), whereas previous sentences could be restricted to around six years.
Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed the amendment on Tuesday, but the legislation needs to be formally rubber stamped by the Senate.
The nation remains without a domestic violence law. It has been drafted, but lawmakers say it is still under debate as a senator from a hardline Islamic party raised objections and sent the bill back to parliament.
You see in the last paragraph above the reality that the Muslims in Pakistan jusssst aren't quite ready to go the final mile and really treat women as humans. After 50 years or 10,000 women being disfigured, we see a legal system finally react to the horror but we now see that a husband beating the ever living shit out of his wife is still not officially punishable.
Now, the enforcement of this new legislation is going to be the trump card here...I'm willing to bet a bunch that in most cases, when a husband is accused of this and makes up some story of the wayward behavior of his wife, this new penalty is going to go out the door.
Pakistan adopts tougher penalties for acid attacks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani lawmakers have adopted tougher penalties for acid attacks in a step towards eradicating a form of violence that can disfigure around 200 women a year, campaigners said Wednesday.
Those convicted of one of the most brutal gender crimes can now be jailed for between 14 years and life, and fined a minimum of one million rupees ($11,750), whereas previous sentences could be restricted to around six years.
Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed the amendment on Tuesday, but the legislation needs to be formally rubber stamped by the Senate.
It tightens the definition of disfigurement and recommends provincial assemblies crack down on the buying and selling of acid.
“This is only the first step… when the first prosecution comes in, that’s when it shows we mean business,” said Marvi Memon, who presented the bill.
“In our feudal society, the culprit gets away with this crime simply because they’re connected to some feudal lord, who is connected to some parliamentarian and now we will ensure we’ll be watchdogs over this,” she added.
Valerie Khan Yusufzai, chair of the Acid Survivors Foundation, told AFP that acid attacks were under reported in Pakistan but believes there are an average of 200 such attacks a year.
“This is a great achievement but not enough. Eradication of acid violence needs a comprehensive law and that is battle number two,” she told AFP.
Yusufzai said acid attacks are prosecuted in categories of attempted murder, hurt or disfigurement, but that the amendment provides a clearer opportunity for victims to register the crime.
“A comprehensive law would define acid and burn crime in a far more comprehensive manner and would be a special law. Not only the crime is being addressed, but the procedure, accountability, medical care, rehabilitation.”
The nation remains without a domestic violence law. It has been drafted, but lawmakers say it is still under debate as a senator from a hardline Islamic party raised objections and sent the bill back to parliament.
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