When I refused to take hashish and drink wine they started beating me and threatened to kill me, says
Rape victim. PHOTO: FILE
If one is searching for stories exemplifying how women are treated with respect, perhaps they might be difficult to find in Pakistan. Brutal treatment of women in our country has been going on throughout generations. These stories originate from rural settings and urban areas alike. Protection for women from rape is difficult to seek as perpetrators do not necessarily have to worry about being caught. Seeking justice after the act is also difficult to come by. Never has the nation raised a voice in solidarity. Instead, we meekly denounce such acts in our drawing rooms, shake our heads and move on with our lives. If we could muster the magnitude of voice that India raised a few months ago over the Delhi gang-rape case, maybe something will be done about the Hudood Ordinances regarding rape, and the authorities will enforce laws and make no exceptions in dealing punishment to offenders. It is the hesitancy in addressing this issue that gives space to extremists to target the few who raise their voices in this regard, and silence any mention regarding the repeal of the ordinance.
The men who committed this crime must not be allowed to roam the streets. They should be behind bars facing possibilities of heavy fines and life-term prison sentences. To this end, the police should make every effort to apprehend the culprits, and a fair trial conducted. Society, on its part, should help rehabilitate this woman — there is no room for the stigma that goes hand in hand with such cases, which assigns blame to the victim rather than the perpetrator.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
If found guilty, then they should be stoned.
@Islamist: "And as per Islam, punishement ; stoning to death should be given without any further delays once the culprits are identified". But to identify the culprits you need four (4) male Muslim witnesses (who should also be able to pass constitution clause 62/63).
""The men who committed this crime must not be allowed to roam the streets. They should be behind bars facing possibilities of heavy fines and life-term prison sentences. To this end, the police should make every effort to apprehend the culprits, and a fair trial conducted""
What is this rubbish!?? Seriously, the prerperators should be stoned to death rather than kept behind the prison facing sentences, that would exactly be the response of the woman molested. And as per Islam, punishement ; stoning to death should be given without any further delays once the culprits are identified.
A very good editorial which should make us aware of the sickening minds of our youth. I agree these beasts must be found and given long jail sentences. Then you say: Society, on its part, should help rehabilitate this woman. That is a crucial sentence. As long as society does not accept such hapless women as innocent normal human beings, women will be scared even to report rapes. Would she get an offer of marriage? Would her family treat her with respect? I know there are good souls out there, but majority have conservative attitudes, which is nearly as evil those beasts who gang raped her.