| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Fugitive From Honor-Killing Family Rescued by Lawyer Group in Pakistan |
| 2004-04-09 |
| The Karachi-based NGO, Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA), strongly condemn the actions taken by the husband and family of Nur Shar. Nur Khatoon says she was married against her wishes to Sharafdin Shar who subjected her to acts of torture and violence, including nail pulling and acid burning. However, her own family members and local tribesmen have designated her âKariâ and called for her death immediately. The tribesmen declared that she was âdishonoringâ them by living with a man outside the bounds of marriage. She appealed for a case to be registered against the perpetrators of these threats and accusations, but immediate Governmental response was minimal. Fortunately, she has now been rescued and removed to the temporary custody of District Nazim, Nafisa Shah. Zia Ahmed Awan, President of LHRLA, charges that the Government should have been swifter in taking action in this case and he pleads to the Supreme Court to intervene in all Karo-Kari cases, including the present situation. He condemns the jirga system that allows this evil practice to flourish and thrive in the 21st century. He further states that the husband and family tribesmen involved should be arrested and immediately brought to justice. LHRLAâs umbrella organization, Madadgaar has been monitoring the press for reports on Karo-Kari cases and other forms of abuse and violence meted out to women nationwide. Last year, Madadgaar found that 823 women, including 20 minors, became the victims of the barbaric custom in Pakistan. The cases documented by Madadgaar reveal that all the male relatives of a woman are capable of perpetrating this custom. In 2002, in 346 cases the perpetrator of the crime was the husband, in 92 the in-laws, in 183 the brother, in 46 the father and in 32 the son of the woman. LHRLA notes that the actual figures of female murder in the name of Karo-Kari are much higher, as these figures represent a mere fraction of the reality because these are limited cases which are brought before the attention of the public by the media. Numerous cases remain unreported and the rampant victimization of women continues to escalate annually. This practice must come to an immediate end and the perpetrators of the crime be penalized for murder, if women are to be afforded equal protection and dignity under Pakistanâs national laws and in accordance with international norms and Conventions to which the State is a signatory. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #3 Okay, Jen, thank you for clearing this up. I was stricken with worry that Afghanistan's Loya Jirga and their threats of violence against women, "During this morning's plenary session, a female delegate spoke out against what she described as the domination of the process by strong political figures whom she called "criminals". The Chairman prevented the woman from continuing to speak and some of the delegates began screaming abuse at her. Some present [at the Loya Jirga] were heard to say that they would kill the woman while others intervened to protect her." EMPHASIS ADDED was anything even remotely like that Pakistani jirga which ordered the gang rape of Mukhtaran Bibi. "A judge in an anti-terrorism court trial in Dera Ghazi Khan convicted four of the men of raping 30-year-old Mukhtaran Bibi, said prosecuting attorney Malik Ramzan Joya. Two other men were convicted of abetting the rape. They were part of a 10-person tribal council that authorized the rape. The other eight members were acquitted." EMPHASIS ADDED Or are you now going to try and tell me that a panchayat and a jirga are two completely different things? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-10 10:19:51 PM |
| #2 No, Mr. I-have-a-scintilla-of-knowledge. "Jirga" is tribal dialect for council in that part of the world. A "loya jirga" is the name for Afghan grand council. Not the same thing, Monsieur cul-chapeau. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-04-10 3:00:40 AM |
| #1 He condemns the jirga system that allows this evil practice to flourish and thrive in the 21st century. As in, loya jirga? Shuckey darn, you mean we've been wrong all along in post stone-age Afghanistan? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-10 1:53:18 AM |