To Sultan: Rape Uncommon in Muslim Countries

Submitted by Walter Manchur (Canada), Aug 26, 2005 at 01:05

Sultan,

In your article you state that; "in your country rape is far more common than ours". Of course it is, because in our country it is against the law and every case is carefully investigated and brought before the courts and punishment usually means spending a number of years in jail. In Muslim countries, it is almost impossible to prove rape by a woman. I am reminded of a case of several years ago in an African Muslim country, where a single woman was raped by a married man and gave birth to a child. She was sentenced to death by Sharia law. That death sentence was later commuted because of the outcry from many countries around the world and it would have been an embarrassment to the African government to proceed with the sentence. By the way the man who raped her did not receive any punishment or condemnation. Another case that comes to mind is more recent. A young man killed his sister because he saw her talking to a stranger. He is no doubt free today, as it appears that under Sharia law he was justified. (Sura 4:34 Men are superior to women on account of the qualities with which God has gifted the one above the other. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share your beds with them, and scourge them, but if they return to obedience, do not seek occasion against them.) The simple truth is that a Muslim woman who reports a rape is in greater danger of losing her own life than seeing justice brought against the rapist. And that is why rape in our countries is more common than yours because in our country, women are not afraid to report this heinous crime against them.

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