In Kuwait, A Woman Was Brutally Murdered By A Man Who Was Harassing Her. This Led To Protests By Women Demanding Women’s Safety

In Kuwait, A Woman Was Brutally Murdered By A Man Who Was Harassing Her. This Led To Protests By Women Demanding Women’s Safety

When it comes to women’s safety, India does not rank well. That can’t be a surprise considering our nation’s capital is also known as the rape capital of India. As horrific as that sounds though, I think we can take solace in the fact that at least we have basic rights. A lot of countries, like Africa and the countries in the Middle East, not only have a nightmarish number of violent crimes against women but also have no women’s rights. Today, however, we are talking about a chilling murder that happened in Kuwait and how it ignited protests. Women are demanding more protection from violence at the hands of men. These protests are much needed.

On Tuesday, Farah Hamza Akbar was abducted from her car by a man who stabbed her and left her outside a hospital. This gruesome incident has sparked outrage. People are once again criticizing the dire state of women in Kuwait. Hopefully, their pleas for more women’s safety won’t fall on deaf ears.

This murder comes two months after an online movement began in Kuwait calling for better protection for women. Sahar bin Aly, a woman’s rights activist at one of the protest rallies said, “A woman was killed in broad daylight and in Ramadan…Why can’t the government protect women? There’s a constitution between us and the state, a constitution that promises equality.”

Also Read: In Kuwait, A Fashion Blogger’s Protest Against Harassment Has Sparked Off An Entire Movement

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said that they have arrested an unidentified man just after he abducted the woman. This man confessed to stabbing the woman in the chest and murdering her. Farah’s family lawyer, Abdul Mohsin al-Qattan says that on the day she died, Farah was being followed by the suspect while she was leaving her house with her daughter and niece. He then crashed his car into hers and abducted her. According to reports, Farah’s family had lodged complaints against this man earlier as well for harassment.

Rothna Begum from Human Rights Watch said, “Women in Kuwait have complained that police do not take their complaints seriously and can leave them further at risk when they report violence to them.”

Activists also say that openly talking about issues like domestic violence harassment or honour-related violence are traditionally viewed as taboo in Kuwait. However, last September a new law passed in Kuwait brought some protection for women against domestic violence. There is also a campaign that has been underway for a few years to overturn a part of the Kuwaiti penal code that permits reduced sentences for men who murder women found committing adultery. Why is this even a law to begin with?

At the protest rally of about 150 men and women, Umm Mohammed said, “I personally do not feel safe … I worry about my daughters going out, and then getting harassed and slaughtered in broad daylight.”

Women’s rights and the rapidly growing violence against women is a global issue that needs to addressed by world leaders on a priority basis. How many more violent murders leading to protests is it going to take for governments to finally pay attention?

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Mitali Shah

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