Lawyers of the Liberia Bar Association (LBA) have described the "rape law as killing and wicked against defendants" and are seeking its removal from the practice of law in the country.

They want the current anti-rape law rewritten in order to protect the rights of accused persons.

Lawyers of the Bar at their just ended assembly in Tubmanburg, Bomi County expressed the concern and formed a committee to review the rape law and make suggestions to the Bar within 30 days.

Recent statistics indicating that 213 persons charged with rape were being detained at the Monrovia prison without trial beyond statutory limits prompting criticism from the lawyers, who described the "rape law as killing and wicked against defendants".

They criticized the rape law during a session that generated serious debate with most of them saying the law was "wicked and foolish" since it has no room for pretrial hearing and bond for accused persons.

Some of the lawyers argued that the removal of pretrial and bond rights make the rape law "unconstitutional".

Criminal Court 'A' Judge James W. Zotaa was the first to describe the law as "wicked" followed by JPC Director Cllr. Augustine Toe and others.

The criticisms come after Justice Minister Christina Tah had admitted that 736 men and 6 women charged with various crimes including rape, armed robberies and murders are being detained beyond statutory limits at the Monrovia central prison without trial in violation of their rights.

She hinted reintroduction of a 'parole system' to reduce the crowdedness of the prison.

Controversy and fierce debates have greeted the rape law since it was enacted in 2006.