Israel: Können bald auch Frauen wegen Vergewaltigung belangt werden?

Women may soon be able to be charged with rape. Last Sunday the Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved a change to the criminal code, which would allow women to be charged with the rape of minors or adults.

The proposed law, introduced by MK Zevulun Orlev (National Union - National Religious Party), would broaden the definition of rape, statutory rape, and sex crimes involving family members. According to Orlev's amendments, these crimes would also apply to cases where a woman forces a minor to have sex with her.

Similar bills were introduced in the two previous Knessets but the Justice Ministry has objected to such changes until now, and the bills were never enacted. (…) It seems as though the ministry changed course upon learning of the case in Netivot, where a mother forced two of her sons, aged 8 and 11, to have intercourse with her. Even though the woman confessed to the accusations, the prosecution's indictment was based on indecent acts and child abuse, since no more serious criminal charges were available.

The maximum sentence for rape is 16 years; it can reach up to 20 years if there are aggravated circumstances. The maximum sentence for indecent acts is only seven years. According to the proposed law, the status of a female rapist is tantamount to that of a male rapist.

Die Haaretz berichtet.