The Stanford Rape case and the victim's letter to her rapist brought awareness and conversation to something that is not talked about in society. Victim shaming is a real thing, and it is the root cause of why most victims don't come out and tell an authority or loved ones. The oh-so-talented rapist slash swimmer, Brock Turner, got off with only 6 months, because, of course, he's a good swimmer! His parents were more concerned with their son's swimming career and future, than the future he took from his victim. No, the victim didn't pass away, but she will never be the same and Brock Turner is solely to blame. The parents pleaded for a shortened sentence, and the judge actually followed through. 6 months. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail, but the victim will have to live with the aftermath of Turner's actions for the rest of her life.
This case and the rapists' consequences or lack thereof...considering Turner originally would've been looking at 6 years in prison, made me curious how other countries handle rapists in present day.
This is what I found:
Egypt: Sexual harassment is 6 months in prison while punishment for rape is a minimum of 6 years and $50,000 in fines. Any offender with multiple counts of rape will be sentenced to death by hanging.
France: Depending on the severity of the crime and "damage to the victim" the rapist is sentenced to a MINIMUM of 15 years and can be extended to 30 or even life.
Israel: 16 years minimum for any form of sexual assault and possibility of life in prison.
Russia: 3 to 20 years imprisonment, depending on the severity of injuries to the victim, and other factors.
Saudi Arabia: Beheading within days of the incidents.
Norway: Any form of sexual behavior without consent constitutes 4 to 15 years.
Iran: Rapists are sentenced to death.
Afghanistan: Rapists are put to death by hanging within 4 days of the assault.
North Korea: Rapists receive death by firing squad (this is at least what the country says, there's no way to know for sure what consequences, if any, occur).*
China: Death Sentence
India: 14 years minimum, possible life in prison, or death sentence. Sexual assault of any nature constitutes rape in court.
USA: Depends whether it falls under federal or state law, punishments can range from a few years to life. (Unless you are a great swimmer, then 6 months will do).
**Some of the methods used (i.e. firing squad, hanging, beheading) are out-dated, gruesome forms of punishment. However, in these countries it is considered normal.
Rape is taken seriously in every one of these countries, and not a single country has a punishment under a year, let alone 6 months.
