A Noakhali court sentenced 10 people to death including six others to life term imprisonment in a case over raping a woman in Subarnachar upazila in 2019. The judge of Noakhali Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2, Fatema Ferdous, has delivered the judgment today (Feb 5). The court also fined the accused Tk 50,000 each. If they fail to fulfill the fine, they would have to stay in jail for two more years. 15 accused were present in court at the time of pronouncement of verdict and one accused was absconding. The assaulted woman alleged that the attack and rape happened because she did not vote for their preferred symbol. The incident was widely discussed at home and abroad.  

Judge of Shariatpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals Md Sohel Ahmed pronounced the verdict this afternoon. The condemned convicts are - Nizam Bali, 45, Mohammad Ali, 35, Omar Faruk Bepari, 24, Al Amin Bepari, 20, and Ibrahim Molla, 21, residents of Dakshin Shitalakathi area under Damudya upazila of the district. The court also fined them Taka 1,00,000 each. Two of them were present in the court. They were sent to the district jail on the order of the court. Three more accused are absconding. According to the case statement, the victim Feroza Begum, 55, hailed from Bhuiyan Bazar area under Dhankathi union of Damudya upazila, disappeared from her home on April 18, 2019 around 5 pm. On April 21, police recovered her body from an abandoned pond in Baro Naogaon area, 10 kilometers from her house. The day after the incident, the victim's younger brother Lal Miah Sardar filed a murder case in the Shariatpur court naming 13 people and 2/3 others as unknown accused. Police submitted a charge sheet against five of them. The rest of the accused were acquitted from the charges. After examining the record and witnesses, the court found them guilty. Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Feroz Ahmed confirmed the matter. Source: BSS  

Japanese lawmakers raised the age of consent from 13 to 16, marking the first change since 1907 and aligning with global norms. Lawmakers in Japan on Friday changed legislation to raise the age of consent from 13 — the lowest among developed nations — to 16. Under the stricter sex crime laws, lawmakers also broadened the definition of rape from "forcible sexual intercourse" to "non-consensual sexual intercourse." The expanded definition includes acts committed using drugging and intoxication. It also criminalized the grooming of minors. Other changes include a crackdown on "photo voyeurism," so-called upskirting, filming or photographing under a skirt without consent, and secretly filming sexual acts. Calls for change Japan's laws regarding sexual consent drew significant attention in 2019, after a string of defendants charged with sexual crimes were acquitted. It led to the Flower Demo movement, with groups of sexual violence victims and their supporters gathering once a month to demand changes to sex crime laws. Japan last revised its criminal code on sexual offenses in 2017, for the first time in more than a century, but campaigners said the reforms were insufficient. The age of consent — below which sexual activity is considered statutory rape — is 16 in Britain, Canada and most states in the US, while it is 15 in France and 14 in Germany and Italy. 'Non-consensual sexual intercourse' Another significant criticism of the old law was that it effectively blamed victims for not resisting enough. Japan has now identified eight scenarios under which rape prosecutions can be made. These include victims being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being frightened and perpetrators taking advantage of social status. In addition, "visitation request offense" — people who use intimidation, seduction or money to coerce children under 16 to meet for sexual purposes  —  was also criminalized, and perpetrators face a prison sentence of up to a year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500, €3,197).

Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the rape of a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel room a decade ago. A Los Angeles court on Thursday sentenced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein to 16 years in prison after convicting him of the rape and sexual assault of an Italian actor and model in 2013. The 70-year-old is already serving a 23-year sentence for a separate conviction in New York in 2020 for similar sex crimes. The sentence increases the possibility that the former film producer spends the rest of his life in prison. Weinstein became the face of powerful men who had gone unpunished for their violence against women until the #MeToo movement shed a public light on his crimes. He was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault in December but was acquitted of the sexual battery of a massage therapist and the jury was unable to reach a decision on counts involving two other women. Weinstein maintains innocence He is appealing the verdicts in both the New York and LA cases.  "I maintain that I'm innocent. I never raped or sexually assaulted Jane Doe 1," Weinstein told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench. The name Jane Doe 1 was given to the woman he was convicted of raping in a hotel room in February 2013 during a film festival. The woman he was convicted of raping cried in the courtroom as he spoke. She had earlier told the judge of the pain she felt after the rape. "Before that night I was a very happy and confident woman. I valued myself and the relationship I had with God," the woman told the judge. "I was excited about my future. Everything changed after the defendant brutally assaulted me. There is no prison sentence long enough to undo the damage.'' The co-founder of Miramax Films was found guilty of sexual misconduct in New York in February 2020. He was extradited to an LA prison in July 2021 to face trial there. His attempts to appeal the New York conviction so far have failed, but the state's highest court has agreed to hear a further appeal. He is eligible for parole in New York in 2039.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the case was "appalling," calling for London's police forces to root out misconduct and restore public trust. It's the latest scandal to tarnish the image of the Metropolitan Police. An active-duty London police officer on Monday admitted his responsibility in a nearly two decade-long campaign of abuse against women. The 48-year-old man pleaded guilty to 49 offenses, including 20 counts of rape. The charges against him also included assault and false imprisonment.   It was the latest case to plague London's Metropolitan Police (Met), which has suffered from a collapse in public confidence due to its handling of problematic cops.  Prosecutors said officer David Carrick used his position of power to control and intimidate his victims, telling them no one would believe their word against his, given his status as a member of the police. "This man abused women in the most disgusting manner. It is sickening," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement.  The case drew a wave of condemnation across Britain. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the case "appalling."   "Police forces must root out these officers to restore the public's trust, which has been shattered by high profile events such as this," Sunak's spokesman said.   Carrick's abuse was 'relentless,' top prosecutor says  Carrick joined the Met in 2001 and has been charged for events that took place between 2003 and 2020.   He allegedly met some of his victims through online dating apps or on social occasions, using his position as a police officer to gain their trust, authorities said.  Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal said he then "relentlessly degraded, belittled, sexually assaulted and raped women."  Carrick isolated women socially and financially, and often held them against their will, going as far as controlling what they wore and when they slept, prosecutors said.   The case follows the high-profile death of Sarah Everard on March 2021 in south London. Everard was raped and killed by on-duty officer Wayne Couzens, after he stopped her on the street and falsely claimed she had broken coronavirus lockdown rules.  London police: 'We have failed'  London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whose office oversees the police departments, said he was "sickened and appalled" by the case.  "Londoners will be rightly shocked that this man was able to work for the Met for so long and serious questions must be answered about how he was able to abuse his position as an officer in this horrendous manner," he added.  Met Commissioner Rowley apologized to victims on Monday, saying Carrick went unpunished due to "systemic failures."  "We have failed. And I'm sorry. He should not have been a police officer," Rowley said.  An in-depth review of Carrick's former service as a soldier and complaints record was carried out in October 2021, after he was first charged with rape, and it found he was already on police systems for a series of off-duty incidents before and after he joined the force.  None of those complaints of rape, domestic violence and harassment managed to deliver criminal sanctions or internal disciplinary proceedings.  The Met "should have been more intrusive and joined the dots on this repeated misogyny over a couple of decades" and "should have been more determined to root out such a misogynist," Rowley admitted.  Met Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray admitted that the pattern of abusive behavior should have been spotted earlier.  "Because we didn't, we missed opportunities to remove him from the organization," Gray said. "We are truly sorry that Carrick was able to continue to use his role as a police officer to prolong the suffering of his victims," she added.  A report published last November found that a culture of misogyny and predatory behavior was "prevalent" in many police forces in England and Wales. The findings indicated that lax vetting standards for police officers played a role.

Jannat Ara Jharna, the “second wife” claimed by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque, today (Friday) filed a case against him for allegedly raping her enticing into marriage. She recorded the rape case with Sonargaon police station in Narayanganj. Later, she was sent to Narayanganj General Hospital for medical check-up, police sources said. On April 3 last, locals held Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque at the Sonargaon Royal Resort along with Jharna. According to the case statement, Jharna was forcibly kept at the homes of acquaintances of Mamunul after the resort scandal. Mamunul even detained Jharna and had sex with her several times against her will, the case statement said, adding that she was also not allowed to communicate with her parents at that time. Mamunul Haque was also the mastermind of breaking up the family with her first husband Shahidul, she said in the case statement. The Hefazat leader claimed Jharne to be his “second wife” as he was caught by locals at the Royal Resort. Mamunul later said in a phone conversation with his first wife Amena Taiba that Jharna was in fact the wife of ‘Shahidul Bhai’. He (Mamunul) introduced Jannat Ara Jharna as his second wife to escape the public wrath at that time, the case statement mentioned. Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on April 26 placed two former central joint secretary generals of Hefajat-e-Islam– Mamunul Haque and Junayed Al Habib – on total seven-day remand in two cases lodged over the group’s mayhem in the capital in May, 2013 and March, 2021. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury passed the order, placing the duo on four-day remand in the case filed with Paltan Police Station in connection with Hefajat’s anarchy in Baitul Mukarram area in March, 2021. The court also placed Mamunul and Habib on three-day remand each in the case lodged with the capital’s Motijheel Police Station over Hefajat mayhem in May, 2013. Earlier, the police produced the accused before the court and pleaded to put them on a total 20-day remand in the two cases. On April 19, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Devdas Chandra Adhikari had placed Mamunul, also the former general secretary of Hefajat-e-Islam Dhaka city unit, on seven-day remand in a 2020 case lodged over carrying out vandalism. Police arrested Mamunul on April 18 from Mohammadpur Jamiya Rahmaniya Arabia Madrasa. Hefajat-e-Islam laid seize on the capital’s Shapla Chattar area on May 5, 2013, unleashing inexpressible atrocities in and around the capital. They vandalized hundreds of vehicles, shops and offices, setting many of those on fire. They even cut down hundreds of trees grown on the road dividers and used those as barricades to obstruct the law enforcing agencies approach. Source: BSS AH

The High Court has ordered ban on publishing all types of photographs and identities of dead or alive female rape victims. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Moniruzzaman delivered the order on Monday. As well as the court also issued rule asking why not the inactivity of the defendants to stop publishing photos and identities of female rape victims should not be declared illegal. Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon took part in the hearing for the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Bishwas stood for the state. The writ petition was filed on January 19 asking to impose ban on publishing photos and identities of the rape victims. Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon on behalf of Justice Watch Foundation filed the writ. Law Secretary, Information Secretary and other concerned were made defendants in this connection. Barrister Milon said, though publishing photos of the rape victims is prohibited by the law but the photos of rape victim women and children are being published in the news media often. In this way the family members are being socially degraded. Recently photo of a rape victim school girl was published in the media. This incident has hurt us. So being irritated I filed the writ petition. AH        

The High Court has issued rule asking why not order would be given to compensate and rehabilitate the children who are victims of rape. The High Court bench of Justice Md. Mojibur Rahman Mian and Justice Md. Kamrul Hossain Mollah issued the rule on Wednesday. The rule also wanted to know why not order would be given to the government to formulate a regulation to compensate the children who are victims of rape whether the case is proved or not. Barrister Abdul Halim took part in the hearing for the writ petitioner. Advocate Isharat Hasan and Advocate Shayla Jahan accompanied him. The rule asked 15 persons including Home Secretary, Women and Children Affairs Secretary to answer within seven days. An organization named ‘Children Charity Foundation’ filed the writ with the High Court on January 2 attaching three incidents of rape published in the mass media in different times. Lawyer Abdul Halim said, 97 per cent accused in rape case are acquitted. Is that mean 97 per cent incidents of rape did not happen? The reason of acquittal is that the state fails to present proper evidences. Then why victims will be responsible? They have self dignity. Education of the children has been damaged. These children cannot go to schools. Then where they would go? Here comes the matter of responsibility of the state. There are regulations across the world to compensate the rape victims. We have submitted the example that Indian Supreme Court ordered to compensate a rape victim by paying 10 lakh rupees. AH      

The incident of rape has not decreased after making death penalty as the capital punishment for this kind of offence. 1,074 women fell victim of rape in the year 2020. Human rights activist advocate Elina Khan said, not only endorsing laws, it needs proper application of the laws and also need change of view towards women. Psychologist Dr. Ahmed Helal said, this kind of violence cannot be prevented due to degradation of moral, familial and social values. Everyday there are occurring incidents like women repression and rape. According to the information of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad 3,440 women and children fell victim of repression. Among those there were 1,074 rapes, 236 gang rapes, 33 were killed after rape and 3 committed suicide due to rape and in total 1,346 women and children fell victim of rape. Advocate Elina Khan said, we cannot stop this kind of crime by increasing the punishment. It needs practice of moral values. Associate Professor of National Mental Health Institute Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed said, this kind of crime will decrease if we pay proper respect to women. It needs social change along with apply of law. We have to introduce science based sexual education. Otherwise it will continue. Experts say that the role of educational institutions and the state is very important to build the foundation of values and respect to women from the childhood. Consciousness and social solidarity are needed to get release from this social disease and violence. AH

Tanvir Iftekhar Dihan, the prime accused in English medium school student Anushkah rape and murder case, delivered confessional statement before the court. Dhaka women and children repression prevention tribunal Magistrate recorded the confessional statement on Friday. According to police and family sources, police produced Dihan before the court at around 12 pm on Friday in a case filed by Anushkah’s father with capital’s Kalabagan police station on Thursday night. After producing Dihan before the court Inspector (investigation) of Kalabagan police station and also the investigation officer of the case Asaduzzaman sought 10 days remand. As Dihan agreed to deliver confessional statement, so the court did not grant remand and ordered to send him in jail. Police said, three people were under interrogation in connection with the murder and the dead body was kept in Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue. Anushkah Nur Amin (18) was an ‘O’ level student of capital’s Master Mind English medium school. The incident took place at Dolphin street at Kalabagan area in the capital on Thursday afternoon. It was known that Anushkah left her Sobhanbag, Dhanmondi residence to see her friend and reached that house at around 12 noon on Thursday. There she became critically sick and then that friend called other three friends of him. Then they took her to Anwer Khan Modern Medical Hospital. There the on duty physician declared Anushkah dead. AH