#StreamUpdate: Lebanon rape law scrapped and Zambia’s Hichilema free
We revisit two stories our community cares about for the latest.
Lebanon
Parliament this week voted to abolish a controversial provision that allowed rapists to avoid punishment if they married their victim. Earlier this month, Jordan repealed a similar provision. But women’s rights groups say the repeal doesn’t go far enough. There are still loopholes that allow rapists to marry girls aged 15 -18 and child marriage remains legal. The Stream checks in with the local women’s movement.
Zambia
Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been released from prison after charges of treason and of plotting to overthrow the government were suddenly dropped. A judge, though, warned that he could be rearrested any time. Hichilema was detained in April after his convoy failed to make way for President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade – a story we discussed on The Stream last month. Though he is now free, questions remain. Why was he freed? And why is he still threatened with arrest? We’ll ask our Zambian community what they think.
Joining The Stream:
Saja Michael @saja13
Program Associate, ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality
abaadmena.org
Jacqueline Chishimba Kalabo @JacqueChishimba
Communications Specialist Consultant, United Party for National Development
upnd-zambia.org
Anthony Mukwita @AnthonyMukwita
Chargé d’affaires, Embassy of Zambia – Sweden
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.