On the Guardian’s website (but not in the print edition), Brian Whitaker reports on the prisons the Libyan state has set up for so-called fallen women - some of them rape victims, some of whom simply have family problems - in which the only escape is as cheap brides:
Despite their name, the rehabilitation centres have a distinctly prison-like character, Human Rights Watch says, and for all practical purposes they are indeed jails: “The women and girls sleep in locked quarters and are not allowed to leave the gates of the compound. The custodians sometimes subject them to long periods of solitary confinement, occasionally in handcuffs, for trivial reasons like ‘talking back’.
“They are tested for communicable diseases without their consent upon entry, and most are forced to endure invasive virginity examinations. Some residents are as young as 16, but [the] authorities provide no education, except weekly religious instruction.”
In today’s Guardian, Anna Politkovskaya reports on a mass outbreak of a mysterious disease in Chechnya, believed to be caused by chemical exposure, but which is claimed by the Government to be nothing more than mass hysteria related to the war.
Possibly Related Posts:
- Replicating spinal cord injuries in Saudi Arabia
- Polygamy, “evolution” and mistreatment of women
- Egyptian football stupidity
- Iraq police suckered by fake bomb detector
- TMI about Aleppo rape victim?
Assalamu Alaikum,
One of the most disturbing parts of the article on that ‘rehab centre” were the director’s comments that girls deemed to be lacking in morals wouldn’t be considered suitable marriage candidates meaning that women and girls are effectively being denied the opportunity of a normal life because of the dictates of a few individuals. Lack of morals is also a very vague expression which could be trotted out as a way of punishing those whom they dislked.I also wonder as to whether the low rates of honour killings in certain coountries might be attributable not to the fine morals of the people there but the presence of “centres” such as the one in the article.
It’s sickening the way Qadaffi, who was public enemy no. 1, is now flavour of the month for Tony Blair.
“It’s sickening the way Qadaffi, who was public enemy no. 1, is now flavour of the month for Tony Blair.”
“There is more joy over one sinner that repenteth… “
Someone needs to tell Qadaffi that the jerry curl went out in the 80s.