The infamous Article 291 of the penal code, which exempts a rapist from punishment if he marries his victim, was canceled by the People’s Assembly on 20 April. Lawyers and women’s activists, who’d been pushing for years for amendment to the law, hailed the decision as a partial victory for women’s rights and a protection for society. The decision was the culmination of pressures from religious leaders, a presidential push, and embarrassment over negative international publicity about the century-old law.