Sonnet Ehlers the inventor of the anti rape condom .
An interview with Sonnet Ehlers by Zara Majidpour
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South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world. According to dr. Sonnet Ehlers a person is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa. Children and babies form part of these statistics and together with the high number of rapes has earning South Africa the title of the rape capital of the world. ”If I only had teeth down there” are the words of a rape’s victim, that inspired Ehlers with her words to invent the anti rape female condom called Rape-aXe. Sonnet Ehlers worked as a medical researcher at Kimberley hospital in the Northern Cape of South Africa. What is the female condom Rape-aXe and how does it work? As her official website explains, the Rape-aXe system consists of a latex sheath, which contains razor-sharp barbs. The device is worn in her va
gina like a tampon. When the attacker attempts vaginal penetration the barbs attach themselves to the penis, causing great discomfort. The device must be surgically removed.
I asked her following questions:
1. Rape-axe is giving women a choice, but there are some criticisms on the practicality thereof. If for example the rapist first checks for the device and asks the women to remove it or in the event of a gang rape, how practical will this device in such circumstances?
These are ill-informed people: We force no one to wear Rape-aXe. Once the product is freely available and women get raped it will be sad if they say. “I should have worn Rape-aXe” I did research in prisons with Rapists. They do not have the time to look for Rape-aXe it is a hit and run and remember the victim is not paralyzed she can move and this wastes time for him and it becomes a major problem. During a gang rape the leader rapes first and under interrogation he will expose the gang. Remember this is not a deed of love, they are psyched up and adrenalin is pumping. They want it over and done with to show their power and that they control. The rapists tells me they are looking for women with long hair so he can maneuver her, clothing that can be easily removed and women that walk slow with no aim and who look timid. They are cowards if a women matches them in stature and strength they will not rape I was told by the rapists.
2. Some people are comparing wearing Rape-axe to wearing a chastity belt and this could be used to control women.
Yes, the chastity belt comes from the medieval era and so does rape the first recorded rape took place in Geneses 34, when Dina was raped. So rape has been with us for long time. During that period it had nothing to do with clothing; they were covered from head to toe. These very same critics all have burglar bars and alarms installed. Are they not also controlled?? By thugs? I love constructive criticism because I can learn from it, but my current critics have never contacted me in person to find out how Rape-aXe works. Have you ever watched the dogs barking at the full moon, and what does the moon do it simply glides on.
3. By wearing the Rape-axe may possibly lead to the rapist hurting his victim especially in a violent country like South Africa. Wouldn't Rape-axe hurt women more than help them?
I am glad to say that rapists do have grey matter and they do happen to use it, he knows he is tagged the rapist that I worked with in prison say “It is better for them be up for rape only, and not rape and murder.” He is tagged and cannot remove the condom without medical assistance. Your serial killer rapes and kills a number of women before he gets caught. How many women have been killed and the rapist was never turned in.
4. Apparently there is a plan to make 300 000 condoms available free of charge before the 2010 Football World Cup. Has it been made available yet?
I am waiting on donations to make this a reality
This interview was translated into Persian (Farsi) and published in Shahrzadnews Website
