courthouse canada
Multiculturalism without assimilation has serious implications for a society, particularly one which wishes to appease assaults on their native culture and values under the guise of tolerance. This takes shape often in the realm of women's rights.

In one such example of this, a Canada man, an immigrant from the Middle East, was found not guilty of raping his wife because he was under the impression that he could have sex with her whenever he wanted, even when it was nonconsensual.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Smith acknowledged that numerous occasions of sexual intercourse between the couple were indeed nonconsensual, but said he could not convict the husband because of the lack of criminal intent, or mens rea.

"Marriage is not a shield for sexual assault," wrote Judge Smith in his decision. "However, the issue in this trial is whether, considering the whole of the evidence, the Crown has proven the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt."

According to the BBC, "Both the man and the wife testified that they thought a husband was legally entitled to have sex with his wife whenever he wanted."

After a legal separation in 2013, the wife, who is originally from Kuwait, "learned" that she could refuse sex with a man, even if he was her husband. A described incident from 2012 eventually led to charges and brought the couple to court.

"She alleged that he had pulled her onto the couch, pulled down her pants and had sex with her despite pleading with him to stop at least three times," notes the BBC.

Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women's Carrolyn Johnston slammed the decision to let off the husband.

"Any sexual contact without explicit and ongoing consent is sexual assault - regardless of the relationship," said Johnson.

"He may have believed that he had a right to have sex with her as her husband, but Canadian sexual assault law is clear and was amended to include sexual assault against a spouse in 1983," she added.