Rape Victim Commits Suicide

I wanted to share this story with others who may not have heard about it yet, though the news has spread quickly.  A sixteen year old Moroccan girl named Amina El-Filali  was made to marry her rapist.  The rapist used an old provision in Moroccan law to escape jail time by marrying her, and her family agreed to allow it.  Being raped is a mark of dishonor to the family, which likely influenced their decision to allow it.  After being married to her rapist for six months, she killed herself by drinking rat poison.

Luckily Morocco is taking action and has vowed to amend the law that allowed this to happen.  It's too late to save Amina, but hopefully it will spare many others.

I'm writing this because victims forced into such abhorrent arrangements need someone to speak for them.  If enough people had spoken out on her behalf before the marriage, this young girl would still be alive.  Being raped must be horrible enough, but to be forced to spend the rest of your life with someone who has such blatant disregard for you as a human being is beyond unthinkable.

Ladies, don't take your rights for granted.  Those of us who are free should appreciate what we have and speak out for those who are not so fortunate.