For EC from Saudi Arabia
MIRROR
rape:
THE MOST HEINOUS CRIME
Indian has a dubious distinction of rising rape cases in spite of all the laws, public outrage, and people's resentment. By M Shamsur Rabb Khan
In Roman law, we find the word raptus, which means abduction. In those days, it was common to kidnap a girl from her father's house for forced marriage. In English, rape is considered as forced sex. Plautus was the earliest Roman playwright who depicted rape in 184 BC. In Greek mythology, there was one Laius who abducted and raped Chrysippus. Laius' crime was so severe that his son (Oedipus), wife (Jocasta), the daughter of Oedipus (Antigone) and his sons (Polyneices and Eteocles) were all killed. Even Zeus, the supreme Greek deity, also committed rape. The Christian Roman interpreted the famous Lucretia's rape and suicide as the outcome of the female's encouragement to rape. This means Lucretia encouraged the rapist. Ancient Indian texts are full of glorification of sexual freedom. Lord Krishna stole the clothes of women while they were bathing in the Yamuna River. The Hindus like it since they hang miniature paintings of the same act in their homes proudly. Lord Shiva entered the bathing area of Parvati. He even killed a child who was keeping guard at the door. Indira is praised even though he indulged in drinking and fornicating Rambha, Urvashi, Menaka and Tilottama.
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EASTERN CRESCENT JANUARY 2014
In Islam, rape is called 'zinabiljabr'. Since its inception Islam offered a high and respectful status to women, and considered rape as a heinous crime. The Islamic scholars treat rape as 'hibrah' and the punishment for committing rape is death. Because the mixing of male and female is prohibited and the females are encouraged not to travel without a male companion, the chances of rape lessen. In modern societies, whether Muslim or otherwise, rape has been a frequent happening – sometimes it becomes public when the victim raises voice, complains, or cries, but in many
cases, rape remains hidden since the victim does not get enough courage to report to the police or disclose before parents and relatives. Interestingly, in most cases of rape, the perpetrators are the near relatives, known family friends, or neighbours. Children are the worst victims. A 2007 survey report of the Ministry of Woman and Child Development observes that 53.22%reported having faced sexual abuse, and the abusers were close relatives and acquaintances. As a crime, rape is the worst and the most inhuman. It has been a tool for terrorizing women, and a form of
Justice for rape victims in India protest in London