Jordan terminates leniency option for honor crimes
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The lower house of Jordan's parliament has closed a legal loophole that gave judges the discretion to impose light sentences for so-called "honor crimes."
Activists and the state news agency Petra say lawmakers on Sunday amended an article of the penal code which cited "severe anger" a mitigating circumstance for men who kill female relatives in the name of "family honor."
Some killers served as little as six months in prison, though courts have gotten tougher.
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Activist Asma Khader praised the decision as a "big step forward" for women in socially conservative Jordan.
Later this week, lawmakers are also expected to repeal an article that enables a rapist to escape punishment if he marries his victim.
Sunday's amendment still needs approval from the upper house, widely seen as a formality.