BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces MPs Strida Geagea and Elie Kayrouz proposed amending the penal code to make marital rape illegal, and abolishing an article which allows rapists to escape punishment if they marry their victim.

"These articles contain discrimination against women,” Keyrouz said in a statement released by LF Wednesday, “and require amendments that coincide with the Constitution's introduction and international human rights and [international] agreements which abolish all types of discrimination against women."

Under articles 503 and 504 of Lebanon’s penal code marital rape cannot be prosecuted.

Extramarital rape carries the punishment of up to five years of hard labor if the woman is older than 15, and up to seven years if she is below the age of 15.

Under article 522, perpetrators of rape can escape punishment if they marry their victim. If the couple divorces within three years the initial crime can be prosecuted.

The MPs’ proposed amendments to article 503 and 504 would punish men who rape their wives, while they are proposing the abolition of article 522.

Keyrouz said that articles 503 and 504 hurt a woman's dignity, her personal freedom and physical health.

"Article 522 aims at resolving the problem with the victim's family and society as they consider the act harmful to their dignity and honor, without considering any compensation to the damage to the victim,” Keyrouz said.