Sit-in for the appeal in an ‘honor killing’ case while the release of assailants of an underage girl declined

In protest over the mitigated sentence on Mohammad Nuheili, murder of wife Manal Assi, Kafa “Enough Violence and Exploitation”organization held a peaceful sit-in yesterday at the Justice Palace during which it called on the Public Prosecutor to appeal the said ruling of the Criminal Court of Beirut. Among participants were relatives of victims of domestic violence, as well as numerous men and women activists who hoisted banners reading the following: ‘Congratulations: a mitigated sentence for culprits and felons’, ‘No to crimes of honor’ and ‘You killed us with your  honor’. Slogans attacked the present oppressive male chauvinist judicial practices against women requesting justice and protection to women like Manal Assi. During the rally, Leila Awada, lawyer at Kafa said that the court decision was shocking, firstly because it was pronounced by a woman judge who has contributed to drafting the domestic violence related law, and secondly, because it came after remarkable progress achieved by women with the support of competent jury in their challenge of fear and silence to this effect.” Honor killings, Awada lamented, which many believed have become history, have reappeared. For her part, Kafa director, Zoya Ruhana, underlined the purpose from the sit-in which is to persuade the Appeals Prosecution to restore the image and veneration of the Lebanese Judiciary through bringing the appeal for cassation in the unfair sentence of Manal Assi and many similar victims of domestic violence. In the case of the attack on a underage girl from Tripoli, and after popular pressure, the examining magistrate of the North refused to release the three arrested men accused of rape. 

(Al Akhbar, As Safir, July 21, 2016)

 

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