Do we miss half of the injuries sustained during rape because we cannot see them? An overview of the use of toluidine blue tissue stain in the medical assessment of rape cases

The prosecution of rape cases is difficult due to the absence of eyewitnesses. McCauley found that the detection of vaginal lacerations increased from one in 24 to 14 in 24 in reported adult rape cases when toluidine blue was used. Proof of injuries consistent with sexual penetration adds significantly to the evidentiary value of the medico-legal testimony. Although rape is not a clinical diagnosis and there are no diagnostic criteria to confirm rape, the possibility of genital injury during rape far exceeds the possibility of injury with consensual intercourse. If a complete examination, including the use of toluidine blue, is not used a rapist may walk away to rape again, while the victims remain with the stigma that they may have made a false allegation. Toluidine blue is a basic thiazine metachromatic dye. It has a high affinity for acidic tissue components, thereby staining tissues rich in DNA and RNA. The epithelium of the external genitalia does not have nucleated cells and prevents contact of stain with nuclei. Where the epithelium is damaged and the underlying nucleated cells are exposed, the nuclei stain blue. Injuries sustained during genital penetration show a distinctive distribution.Toluidine blue stain is easy and safe to use, available, inexpensive and does not interfere with other medico-legal evidence, therefore it is recommended to be used in the examination of all cases of alleged rape.

[An Analytical Study of Mohsenat in Surat Al-Nour] Dirasat Tajliliah lil Muhsanah al-Tibaq fi Surah an-Nur

This research aims to identify the most prominent embellishment feature of Arabic rhetoric (al-muhassinat al-badi’iyyah) that is al-tibaq derived from several verses in surah al-Nur, with the definition of al-tibaq and the explanation of its relation to the Holy Quran. The reason of choosing this surah as it contains special characteristics as well as its strong meaning either in term of Arabic language or sharia law such as law of adultery, defamation and others. Among the greatest characteristics of this surah is that it was revealed in order to protect Ummu al-Mu’minin Sayyidatina A’ishah r.a. from a false allegation. In this study, the researcher applied an analytical descriptive approach to derive and clarify the al-tibaq feature from the verses including its relation to the Holy Quran. The result of this research shows a splendid beauty of al-tibaq through the explanation of the related verses from surah al-Nur. Keywords: analytical study, al-tibaq, surah al-Nur. يهدف هذا البحث إلى دراسة أبرز المحسنات البديعية الجمالية وهي (الطباق) مستنبطا إياها من خلال تحليل آيات سورة النور مع التعريف بالطباق وبيان علاقته بالقرآن الكريم. وكان الاختيار لكتابه هذه المقالة وبخصوص هذه السورة لما تميزت به من خصائص قيّمة وما تضمنته من معان راقية سواء كانت في مجال اللغة العربية أو في الأحكام الشرعية كحكم الزنا والقذف وغيرهما من الأحكام الهامة. ومن أعظم خصائص هذه السورة أنها نزلت تبرئةً لأم المؤمنين سيدتنا عائشة رضي الله عنهما وأرضاها. وقد اعتمد الباحث في هذه الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي في استنباط وتبيين محسنة الطباق في الآيات وتبيين علاقتها بالقرآن الكريم. ونتيجة البحث إبراز جمالية محسنة الطباق من خلال تبين الكلمات المطابقة في العديد من آيات سورة النور. مفاتيح الكلمات: دراسة تحليلية، الطباق، سورة النور.