The rally was organized by Nasawiya, a feminist collective that also runs The Adventures of Salwa campaign against street and sexual harassment. View images.
Via The Daily Star:
“Neither marital rape nor domestic violence is currently outlawed in Lebanon, and sexual harassment in the work place is also not criminalized.
Furthermore, according to Article 522 of the Lebanese Criminal Code, if a man rapes a woman, his sentence will be repealed if he marries his victim.
Farah Salka, of feminist collective Nasawiya, said the current Lebanese laws regarding sexual violence were “archaic” and that the time for change had come.
“We are also asking all police, municipalities, and Parliament to take rape and sexual harassment seriously,” she added. Activists will meet at noon outside the Interior Ministry, and march toward Parliament.”
I applaud them and send strong thoughts of solidarity.
It’s exciting to remember this is just one of several large-scale rallies organized women against sexual violence and harassment. In the past few weeks, thousands of women rallied in Egypt and as did hundreds in Israel.
As the poster above says, “We have nothing to lose but our chains” when people protest their own oppression. Let us all vow to raise our voices and protest oppression, be it our own or be it the oppression of others.
Alan says
Bravo to these people and shame on the government of Lebanon for not enacting tougher lars before now!