If the desire is to punish people for sex outside marriage, then the women should ALSO be punished. Islam is starting to look more better with every passing year.
My take is that a rape only takes place when witnesses other than the “he said, she said” pair concur on the charges. These witnesses can include physical evidence or eyewitness evidence. But if the only evidence is that she has made the claim, there simply is no case. If he denies the charge and there is no physical evidence, no charges should ever be filed. Even if he’s just really good at raping women without causing any telltale marks or bruises. There is just not enough evidence.
My take is that a rape only takes place when witnesses other than the “he said, she said” pair concur on the charges. These witnesses can include physical evidence or eyewitness evidence. But if the only evidence is that she has made the claim, there simply is no case. If he denies the charge and there is no physical evidence, no charges should ever be filed. Agreed. And "physical evidence", as you implied, should be evidence of non consensual sex, not just evidence that sex occurred.