In this edition of Women's Weekly, we have decided to focus once again on rape - an act of forcing someone to have sex, especially by using violence.

Rape is an offence and it is becoming rampant in our society and it cannot be tolerated. The argument here is who is to blame? Some said men are to blame whilst others said women are to blame.  Then who is causing this offence to become rampant in our society?

The fact of the matter is that society consists of groups of people who are all constantly defending their interests. An open question like who is to blame for the escalating menace of rape in society will undoubtly spark a  debate in which women and men will tend to blame one another.  But it is important to avoid a parochial conclusion, but provide our readers with a critical analysis of the social conditions that encourage and result to the escalating menace of rape in our society.

One thing is paramount. If men can be blamed for arrogance, doubt can also be cast on the seducing appearance of our women in town. Dress codes that expose the girls in the street can contribute greatly to attracting men to defiling them. Like wise instead of some of the men minding their businesses and concentrate on whatever they might be doing, they will be hell bent on monitoring the movement of girls in the streets.

On the other hand, we must advance that while others uphold that the menace is a sickness in men, there also exist some parents who expose their daughters to men, probably due to poverty. Whatever aguement put forward, the truth is that our society is governed by our cultural and religious norms and values. These norms and values have prohibited rape. What is significant therefore is that all social institutions, ranging from the media, religious, cultural, and civil institutions should  create mas sensitisations about dangers associated with rape.

Must often than not, it is the young people, the cream of society who are involved in this manace.  If they are denied social guidance, the society that they will give birth to will of course not be fit for human habitation. Remember, the young people  are the future technocrats and administrators of our destiny. They deserve everything in the society to be on the right track.

Below we reproduce a rape case at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul. More than five rape cases were mentioned before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul this week. The most prominent rape case dealt with in this court is the state against Musa Sarr, a Senegalese businessman and a mobile phone dealer at the Serrekunda market.

On Tuesday, August 18, 2009 the suspect was given a life imprisonment sentence by the presiding judge, Justice Moses Richards. The convict was alleged to have had a carnal knowledge of a teenager during last year's Ramadan and deflowered her. According to the presiding Judge,when handing his verdict, the offence of rape is becoming rampant in the  society and is one of the most deplorable offences that can no longer be tolerated. Justice Richards said the criminal court has the duty to protect the society from criminals and in this particular case, a young girl of 18 years is a victim of rape.

In the words of the defence council, Lawyer Edward Gomez who heard the testimony of the victim before the court said he (Gomez) as a father was so touched with the revelations given by the victim. Lawyer Gomez said in life, people make mistakes but sometimes do them deliberately. He further said rape is a crime of passion coupled with emotion.

Lawyer Gomez revealed that victims of rape are usually emotionally scared for life as it leaves an indelible mark that the victim will not forget in living memories. He said women are constantly victims of rape and the media is continually carrying out the news that those who are protecting these women always abused them. According to him, during war and conflicts, women are always subjected to rape from so-called soldiers who are supposed to be protecting them.

He said the carnal knowledge (sexual appetite) of many great and mighty people could lead to their downfall if they cannot control their emotions. Lawyer Gomez cited great leaders like President Bill Clinton, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and many more who have had problems because of lack of their emotional control.

The rape victim confesses in court (name withheld) The victim who was seriously weeping while narrating her ordeal before the court said she came to know the accused during last year's month of Ramadan when she went with her aunt to buy a cell phone from him (accused) at  the Serrekunda market but they later discovered that the cell phone had a charging problem and the accused substituted the Samsung phone with a Motorola, despite that the phone was still faulty.

According to the young girl, one day, she called the accused asking him to return their money, but the accused later called her asking her to meet him so that he can substitute the faulty phone for her. In the words of the victim, the  accused told her that he is no longer operating his business in Serrekunda market but he asked her to meet him around the Independence Stadium and when they finally met, the accused asked her to go with him to his house to collect the cell phone.

The victim who trusted the accused heed to the words of the  accused and they boarded taxi to the outskirt of Bakau, where the  accused led her into a rice field but as the victim noticed they had walked too long into the rice field and there was no sign of anyone, she insisted that she was going back but the accused held and told her that he had missed the way.

The accused who thought time was also running out for him then turned and asked the victim to kiss him and also  threatened her that if she refused, he would do something to her since no one was around. the young girl  screamed for help but no one was around to rescue her from this monster; then the accused held her mouth, squeezed her neck and forcefully removed her pants. The accused spat on his hands and rubbed the crown of his male genital organ with the sputum and forcefully removed her pant and had carnal knowledge of her.

The victim started weeping inside the court and it took her more  than 20 minutes for the presiding judge, Justice Richards to  calm her down. As she continued narrating her ordeal, she said blood gushed out of her private part and the accused promised her that he was going to take her to Palma and buy her things but warned her not to tell anybody.

The victim said she kept quiet until they left from the rice field and boarded a taxi. She added that she narrated her ordeal to the taxi driver and asked him to take him to the nearest police station. The victim said the taxi driver took them to Kotu Police station and she met the station officer and showed her pant with blood stained. I must say this one is among thousands of rape cases; many are unreported for fear of being attacked, maimed or killed by the offender.

Sidiq Asemota our court reporter contributed