You read it right. It's 2015, and an all-male counsel in India has ruled two sisters to be raped on the grounds of their brother's crime. Their brother, who eloped with a married woman, is facing no known consequences, but his sisters are.
Aged 23 and 15, the two young women are also being forced to be paraded around naked with blackened faces. And people say we don't need feminism. Amnesity International has started a petition to help these two girls from being raped, but there are no guarantees that the petition will stop what is to come. Kumari, one of the women who has been "sentenced" to rape, has stated in India's supreme court that the police have harassed her and not tried to help them whatsoever. They are so terrified to return to their homes that they are now homeless, with nowhere to go.
Rape is a horrific, disgusting experience and should not be wished onto anyone, let alone a 15-year-old girl who did nothing wrong and is being forced to pay for someone else's "mistake" (I wouldn't consider cheating something that should be against the law). This is just another instance of rape culture and sexism. It's almost unbelievable that this is happening today, and we hope and pray that these girls stay safe and are left unharmed.
Cruel and abnormal punishment for crimes might be unconstitutional in the U.S, but so many countries have a long way to go. Take a stand and realize that though you might feel safe and warm in your home, there are people all over the world who are terrified of the country that is supposed to protect them. These girls need our help, so take one moment to sign the petition and try to get involved. No one deserves this.