the Zina Hudood Ordinance of Pakistan and its implications for women
- Categories
- Article/Artikel
- Magazine Title
- Journal of International Women's Studies
- Magazine Year
- 2005
- Magazine Number
- 2
- Creator
- Imran, Rahat
- Thesaurus
- seksueel geweld, gender, discriminatie, moslima's, islam, wetgeving, recht, Pakistan
- Description
- This paper explores the trend of sexual violence against women that emerged in Pakistan with the introduction of the Islamization process through the implementation of the Sharia laws since 1979. The focal pont is rape and the state legislation that governs it, namely the Zina Hudood Ordinance and the Law of Evidence, and how the gender-discriminatory nature of these laws serves as a powerful weapon in the hands of the patriarchal society of Pakistan to suppress women. These laws and their rigid interpretation in the name of Islam have not only furthered oppression and sexual violence against women to an alarming degree in Pakistan, but also seriously destroyed women's chances of equal justice. The factors that led to the implementation and survival of such laws in the first place, and consequently how rape became a intimidating weapon against women, are discussed. The paper examines the various political, social, cultural and religous factors that contribute to this situation, and the legal and social complexities involved for women in seeking justice in rape cases. In conclusion Pakistani women's initiative in evolving and building an organized resistance and struggle for the cancellation of gender discriminatory laws are discussed.