Amendment to rape law is signed

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf signed into law an amendment to the country’s controversial rape statute to make it easier to prosecute sexual assault cases, despite nationwide protests by hard-line Islamists.

Rights activists have long condemned Pakistan’s old rape law for punishing -- instead of protecting -- rape victims while providing legal safeguards for their attackers.

Under the change, judges can choose whether a rape case should be tried in a criminal court or under Islamic law.

It also drops the death penalty for sex outside of marriage.