they are in the process of being reformed away, the penal code has over recent years been made far more in line with modern feelings about human rights, however changing the legal codes is not an overnight thing. The main problem is that between them the nationalists, certain religious groups and hard line conservatives control a minority large enough to prevent reform if they work together, this means that while those groups that wish reform are the majority they have to be careful to get these laws passed due to how the government of serid works.
