Marital rape: A hidden crime behind closed doors

In a recent interview with France 24, Dr. Dima Dabbous, Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa at Equality Now, emphasised a painful reality: although marriage is meant to be built on affection and respect, many women across the Arab region continue to be forced into sexual acts by their husbands.  Despite the seriousness of the violation, marital rape remains a “silent crime”, one that many legal systems still refuse to acknowledge.

This silence is not accidental. In most Arab countries, the law does not recognise a wife’s right to consent as a requirement for sexual relations within marriage. As a result, countless women are left without the legal protection they deserve.

Why is it not criminalised?

According to our recent research, In search of justice: Rape laws in the Arab States, none of the 22 member states of the Arab League explicitly criminalise marital rape.
In several countries, including Jordan, Palestine (West Bank), and Syria, rape laws specifically exclude sexual acts committed within marriage.

Without explicit criminalisation, cases of marital rape are often, at best,  reframed as “domestic disputes” or general “domestic violence,” undermining the gravity of the sexual assault and creating significant barriers for women seeking justice.

The impact on survivors: Physical, emotional, and social harm

Women subjected to sexual violence in marriage often face:

• Psychological trauma, depression, and long-term emotional distress

• Repeated physical harm and chronic health issues

• Social stigma and family pressure to remain silent

• Limited pathways to seek help due to legal and institutional gaps

With no clear recognition of marital rape, even when courts address physical abuse, the sexual assault is frequently minimised or ignored altogether.

A call for change: Why consent matters within marriage

As Dr. Dabbous stresses, acknowledging a wife’s right to consent does not clash with social or cultural values. Instead, it reinforces fundamental principles of dignity, bodily autonomy, and mutual respect, values that every marriage should uphold.

Criminalising marital rape is not merely symbolic; it offers:

• Legal protection and accessible mechanisms for women to report abuse

• Recognition that forced sex is a crime, regardless of marital status

• Stronger, more comprehensive domestic violence laws

• A pathway to societal change through awareness, education, and accountability
  

Legal reform must go hand-in-hand with support systems, such as shelters, psychological services, and legal aid to ensure real protection for survivors.

A call to our collective conscience

Marriage is not a permanent license to a woman’s body. It is a bond built on respect, affection, and shared agency. Forcing a woman into sexual activity, despite her refusal, discomfort, or fear, is a violation of her human rights. It is violence, and it is criminal.

Recognising marital rape as a crime is essential to breaking the culture of silence and ensuring justice for survivors. If we believe in equality, dignity, and human rights for all, we must stand with women demanding: criminalisation, protection, and justice.