This week brought two tragic real-life cases that should work their way into upcoming SVU episodes.

First is the unconscionable death of Amina Filali.  The 16-year-old Moroccan rape victim killed herself by eating rat poison after a Moroccan court forced her to marry her rapist.  Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code allows for the “kidnapper” of a minor to marry his victim to escape prosecution.  There is a long and barbaric practice in Morocco of forcing rape victims to marry their assailants in order to preserve her family’s honor.  One of the great things about SVU is its ability to get people talking about important issues. I hope the show will take this one up soon, and shine a light on this dark corner of human rights.

Second, was the murder of domestic-violence victim Heather McGuire by her husband, a few days after she’d obtained a restraining order against him.  (This happened in Kensington, Maryland, a mile from where I live.)  Although the husband had assaulted her several times in the days before, and was arrested for it, the judge released him on bail.  The husband killed her the next day.  After the police launched a massive manhunt, he killed himself.

In light of the murder/suicide, many people have asked me whether protective orders are really useful.  It’s true that a piece of paper can’t stop a bullet.  But studies show that victims who seek help from the courts are far safer than those who don’t.  Of course, the safest thing in a case of repeated violence and stalking is to keep the perpetrator locked in jail pending trial.  Judges need to take domestic violence seriously, and protect victims with the tools available.  When they don’t, this kind of tragedy is too often the result.