Court Grants Divorce to Woman Who “Felt Like Rape Victim”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A recent decision in a divorce case has added fuel to the growing debate on whether it’s time for the country to criminalize marital rape.

Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson granted a divorce to a woman who said she, “felt like a rape victim during the ordeal of sexual intercourse” with her husband of 15 years. Their union produced a child.

The woman filed for divorce on the grounds of cruelty, citing numerous instances when she says her husband forced himself on her in support of the petition.

The woman alleged it was commonplace for her husband to come home, ask for sex, and if she refused, he would lubricate, take his pleasure and leave.

The woman said the encounters had damaged her emotionally.

Although the woman described the sexual encounters as rape in her petition, Lewis-Johnson noted there is no rape in marriage under Bahamian law.

However, Lewis-Johnson granted the divorce after finding that the husband’s behavior amounted to cruelty. The husband denied the allegations of cruelty, saying that he took care of the household and did not cheat on his wife.

He said he waited until marriage to have sex; however, during the marriage his sexual needs were not met.