Bangladesh Approves Death Penalty for Rape Cases

          Dhaka, Bangdesh (Oct. 12) - Bangladeshi cabinet has approved death penalty for rape cases Monday, increasing from life incarceration to excecution, triggered by the physical demonstrations on the streets and digital expressions in social media.

          The approval came after a series of sexual assults had been reported this year.  Many have willingly welcomed the government decision.

          This year, over 1,000 rape cases have been disclosed. The outpouring of  anger was triggered after a viral footage showing a 37-year-old women attacked by a group of  men had come to light, causing eigth men arrested.

          Ain-o-Salish Kendra, a women’s rights group, revealed that 889 rapes, including many gang rapes, happened between Jan. and Aug. It added at least 41 victims have been dead.

          Rights groups said many more related cases have not unearthed because fears of humiliation by influential people and long-run justice process.

          The demonstration called the goventment for faster justice process, and stiffer punishments.

          23 people have been hanged in the country since 2013 while at least another 1,718 are on death row, according to a local rights group. Some information is applied from BBC News, AP, the Hundu.