Swaziland Outlaws 'Rape-Provoking' Clothing

Police in Swaziland are cracking down on rape—by putting women in jail. Authorities in Africa's last absolute monarchy have issued a ban on "rape-provoking" clothing, including miniskirts, midriff-revealing tops, and low-rise jeans, the AFP reports. Women caught wearing such clothing will be arrested, and face six months in jail. "The act of the rapist is made easy, because it would be easy to remove the half-cloth worn by the women," a police spokeswoman explained.

The spokeswoman also said that provocatively-dressed women are to blame when they are sexually assaulted. "I have read from the social networks that men and even other women have a tendency of 'undressing people with their eyes.' That becomes easier when the clothes are hugging or are more revealing," she said. The ban will not, however, apply to traditional garb, which can be a tad revealing. During the annual Reed Dance, for instance, women go bare-breasted and wear beaded skirts that only cover their front. (More Swaziland stories.)