Need to fix legal aberrations

Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni recently expressed support for the abolition or amendment of the death penalty in a local electronic media outlet.

He also said he agreed with amending the infamous Article 308 of the Penal Code, which spares a rapist punishment if he marries his victim.

This is encouraging, coming, as it does, from an official who could affect change of the legislation.

The death penalty has been phased out and abolished in most countries; Jordan need not remain an exception to the growing international consensus on the issue for much longer.

As for the practice of not punishing a rapist simply because he marries his victim, this is a serious aberration that must be addressed, actually revoked, as soon as possible.

The minister is to be commended for speaking out against major shortcomings in the national legislation on crime and punishment.

If his statements were made with the tacit blessing of the government, even better. But whatever is the case, it is good to hear such official speak out against laws that do not make anyone proud.

If these two items in the national legislation are corrected, that will be a good step in the direction of rectifying other issues that still need to be addressed, especially those touching on gender equality.

Jordan cannot remain out of step with the enlightened world.

If the minister’s stand is taken into consideration and will be used to tackle controversial laws, citizens will have reason to be proud of their justice system.

Now that the country has just adopted a national plan of action for the protection and promotion of human rights for the years 2016-2025, it behooves the government to act on the recommendations of the minister of justice and make the necessary changes as soon as possible.