Swaziland bans 'rape-provoking' miniskirts, low-rise jeans
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A picture taken on March 4, 2008 shows South African women marching against the abuse of women and to defend women's right to wear miniskirts, in downtown Johannesburg. Police in Africa's last absolute monarchy Swaziland have banned women from wearing miniskirts and midriff-revealing tops saying they provoke rape, local media reported on Dec 24, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
MBABANE, Swaziland (AFP) - Police in Africa's last absolute monarchy Swaziland have banned women from wearing miniskirts and midriff-revealing tops saying they provoke rape, local media reported on Monday.
Offenders face a six-month jail term under the ban, which invokes a colonial criminal act dating back to 1889.
"The act of the rapist is made easy, because it would be easy to remove the half-cloth worn by the women," police spokesman Wendy Hleta was quoted as saying in the Independent Online news.
The ban also applies to low-rise jeans.
