While the Islam religion has actually been known for being ahead of the times in the past, the new movements have put women back, even leading to women being jailed for being raped. Obviously, no woman would want to report a rape given the circumstances, but ironically, many officials also believe that a woman cannot get pregnant from one encounter. Therefore, if they are pregnant, it must have been the result of an ongoing affair, which again leads to the woman being jailed. The man on the other hand receives no punishment at all.
This is what happened to one Afghan woman who has only recently been pardoned for being raped by a family member, her cousin’s husband. This pardon was given stipulation that the woman would marry her rapist, which is a deeper insult to women’s rights in the Middle East. However, that condition has since been removed.
She only received attention after an international documentary on this kind of problem was released featuring her face. Gulnaz, the woman in question, was initially sentenced to 2 years in jail for “adultery by force”, which to us sounds a lot like rape. However, upon appeal, this sentence was increased to 12 years, and she has been raising her daughter, the product of rape, in prison.
The third appeal cut her time down to 3 years and initially required her to marry her rapist.
Since then, Gulnaz has stated:
”I am obliged to marry him, even though I can’t look at him.”
More specifically, Gulnaz feels that she is forced to marry her rapist, despite an overturned statement made previously, in order to protect her family honor. Officially, her cousin’s husband forced his way into her home, tied her up, and then raped her when she was 19.
As of right now, polygamy is still legal in many Middle Eastern countries including Afghanistan. Men can officially have up to 4 wives. This is definitely not the victory most were hoping for, but you cannot change an entire culture overnight.