A British lawmaker proposed a 6 pm curfew for men after a London woman was murdered while walking home at night – in a case that rocked the country and sparked an intense debate about women’s safety.
Baroness Jenny Jones, a member of the Green Party in the House of Lords, made the extreme suggestion on Wednesday during a debate over the Domestic Abuse Bill.
“In the week that Sarah Everard was abducted, and I suppose she was killed because the remains were found in a forest in Kent, I would say that in the next opportunity for any appropriate bill, I could actually come up with an amendment to create a curfew for men on the streets after 6 pm, which I think would make women a lot safer and that discrimination of all kinds would decrease, ”said Jones, according to the Independent.
But Jones was quickly forced to explain that his proposal “was not an entirely serious suggestion” and was not a party policy after a barrage of criticism from voters and lawmakers.
“My God, the world is going crazy. Greens are thinking of a curfew for men after 6 pm – I’ve heard it all, ”conservative leader Susan Hall tweeted Thursday.
In an interview with Sky News on Friday, Jones clarified that she was making a point about the victim accusation that women often face.
“I was just trying to point out that when the police victim blames you for asking women to stay at home, we don’t react. We just think it’s normal, ”said the legislator.
“That nobody really makes a noise when, for example, the police suggest that women stay at home. But when I suggest that, the men are armed. “
Everard, 33, disappeared while walking home from a friend’s home in Clapham, south London, last week.
On Tuesday, London policeman Wayne Couzens – whose duties include protecting the royal family – was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, suspected murder and indecent exposure in connection with the case.
A day later, human remains believed to be from Everard were discovered in a wooded area near Ashford, Kent.
The death of the innocent woman sparked a wave of anger over violence against women in the UK.
Meanwhile, Jones said he appreciates the scrutiny of his “proposal” and hopes it will lead to a meaningful discussion of gender and public security roles.
“Since my comments on a curfew for men to keep women safe, I have had a flood of misogynistic emails and tweets. What proves my point of view on the problem of being with men ”, the legislator tweeted Thursday.