Pakistan has a new rape law that makes it easier to prosecute sexual assault cases.
President Pervez Musharraf signed the measure into law today, even though thousands of religious conservatives rallied against the changes.
A Pakistani official says the new law safeguards "the rights of women." The changes take effect immediately.
The new law allows judges to decide whether a rape case should be tried in criminal court or under the old Islamic law, which requires the testimony of four witnesses. It also drops the death penalty for sex outside of marriage.
This is a significant event, given the bill was previously blocked by the opposition party.
Text of the bill can be found here.
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