Swaziland Has Not Banned Wearing 'Rape-provoking' Miniskirts

A government spokesperson has said that Swaziland has not banned the wearing of miniskirts.

Percy Simelane said that government has not deliberated or taken any position to that effect in recent times or any other time, nor has it ordered the arrest of anyone wearing a mini-skirt.

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Simelane said the Section 28 (1, 2 and 3) of the National Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (2005) protected the freedom and rights of women in the country such that no custom may be imposed on them in which they were in conscience opposed, news 24 reports.

He said that any law that is not in the spirit or is not in conformity with the Constitution is void as explicitly stipulated in Section 2 [1].

He said the process of reviewing all laws that were in conflict with the constitution were continuing, the report said.

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According to the report, Swaziland media reported on Monday that the police had banned women from wearing miniskirts and midriff-revealing tops, saying they were provoking rape.

Offenders faced a six-month jail term under the ban, which invoked a colonial criminal act dating back to 1889.

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The ban reportedly also applies to low-rise jeans.

Source-ANI

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