Fact Check: Viral Claims About Execution By Hanging Law for Rapists Are False
चैत २९, २०८२ २०:२६
Kathmandu: For the past few days, posts and videos have been going viral on social media claiming that the Government of Nepal is preparing to introduce a law to impose the death penalty for rape-related crimes. However, the claim is misleading.
The government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has not made any official announcement regarding the imposition of the death penalty for rapists. Moreover, Nepal’s Constitution does not permit the enactment of laws that allow capital punishment. Fact-checking confirms that claims circulating on social media suggesting Nepal could impose the death penalty are false. Nepal is also a signatory to multiple international treaties and conventions opposing capital punishment.
Claims
The Facebook page ‘Aama’ posted on April 10, claiming that the government is introducing a law to execute rapists. The post, published at 11:02 a.m., included a picture of Prime Minister Balendra Shah with the caption: “Breaking: Law to execute rapists is being introduced, Balen’s government is saving daughters!!”
As of the time this content was prepared, the post had received more than 2,300 reactions.
Investigation
When we searched using the keyword “executing rapist,” we found that several other pages had also posted content making the same claim.
A Facebook page called ‘HTV Television’ posted a video at 8:31 p.m. on April 9 with the caption: “Breaking: Will rapists be executed now? Balen government saving daughters!!”
In the video, it is claimed that rapists will now be executed by hanging in Nepal, similar to other countries, and that the Balen-led government is preparing to take such a step, even by amending the law. The video has been viewed more than 1.1 million times, received over 71,000 reactions, been shared more than 1,600 times, and commented on more than 2,700 times.
On April 10, at 1:06 p.m., an online company named ‘Khabar Express News’ also published a post with the same claim. The post reads: “Breaking: Death penalty for rapists, Balen government saving daughters, how do you feel about it? What score out of 100 would you give? #balen"
Verification
After observing that the claim was going viral, we conducted an advanced Google search using keywords such as “rape death penalty,” “rapist execution,” “death penalty law amendment,” and “government bringing law to hang” covering the past month. However, no credible media reports were found indicating any move to amend the law to introduce the death penalty or execution for rapists.
Instead, during the search, a video dated March 27 was found showing Law Minister Sobita Gautam announcing her first decision after being reinstated as Minister of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs. She stated that a study task force would be formed to identify legal obstacles in ensuring justice in cases of rape, murder, sexual violence, and offences against children following rape, to strengthen legal action against perpetrators and ensure swift justice for victims. However, she did not mention any proposal to introduce the death penalty for rape-related crimes.
After the formation of the new government, news reports indicate that the first meeting of the task force under the leadership of MP Asim Shah to prepare the constitutional amendment discussion paper was held on Wednesday, April 8. In that meeting as well, no agenda related to drafting a law to impose the death penalty for rapists was discussed.
According to Ekantipur, the meeting led by Asim Shah, political advisor to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and coordinator of the task force, assigned Member Secretary (Undersecretary of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) Liladhar Subedi the responsibility of collecting written suggestions from political parties, identifying constitutional amendment issues, and preparing and presenting the task force’s upcoming work plan.
The task force has been assigned to identify legal and constitutional obstacles, but no decision has yet been made regarding any amendment to introduce capital punishment. Furthermore, the Constitution of Nepal 2072 prohibits the enactment of laws that allow the death penalty.
Under Article 16 of Part 3 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072, which covers fundamental rights and duties, the “Right to Live with Dignity” is guaranteed. Sub-Article (2) clearly states: “No law shall be made that imposes the death penalty on anyone.
It was also found that Nepal, having signed various international treaties, agreements, and protocols to ensure the right to life, cannot enact laws that impose the death penalty.
A BBC Nepali news report states that Nepal has signed and ratified more than 24 human rights-related treaties and conventions opposing the death penalty, and that it cannot withdraw from those international conventions.
Claim
The Government of Nepal is preparing to introduce a law to hang rapists.
Claimants
Facebook pages including ‘Aama’, ‘HTV Television’, ‘Khabar Express News’, and several social media users.
Facts
Article 16(2) of Part 3 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 clearly states: “No law shall be made that imposes the death penalty on anyone.” Nepal has also signed more than 24 international treaties and conventions related to human rights, opposing the death penalty. Law Minister Sobita Gautam has formed a task force to study legal obstacles for improving justice in rape cases and strengthening the punishment process. However, no announcement has been made regarding any law introducing the death penalty.
Conclusion
Claims and videos suggesting that the government will introduce a law to execute rapists by hanging are false.
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पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: चैत २९, २०८२ २०:२६
