Two-year-old Rabia
Posted on 02/27/2005 11:52:42 PM PST by MadIvan
As she emerges from her mud-walled house carried high on her elder brother's shoulder two-year-old Rabia is blissfully unaware of the life that awaits her.
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Two-year-old Rabia |
The decision was taken last week as a punishment against her uncle, Mohammed Akmal, who was found to have slept with another man's wife. As part of the compensation deal he also agreed to pay 230,000 rupees (£2,175).
According to custom, a girl from an "offending" family must be offered in marriage to a man from a complainant's family.
The cuckolded man, Altaf Hussain, 35, is already married with three children but has divorced his wife after discovering her affair with Akmal.
Human rights groups in Pakistan have condemned the panchayat's ruling which effectively decides the future of the girl's life before she is even able to talk.
Although panchayats have no official standing in law, in practice they remain a powerful instrument of justice and control in rural areas which remain under the control of feudal landlords.
Few people in the Punjab village of Kutcha Chohan, 170 miles east of the central city of Multan, dared talk openly about the panchayat. Between 20 and 25 tribal notables sat on the council which was held at the mud-plastered and thatched outhouse of a local landlord of the girl's tribe, the Bunglani Mazari.
Villagers who asked not to be named said when the wronged man learned of the affair he declared Akmal "kala" meaning "black" or "adulterer", forcing him to go on the run for several months. He only returned when his mistress's family issued a threat to kill him.
The decision over Rabia's family led one of her uncles, Nasrullah Nasir, to protest.
"My family ask me why I have raised my voice against this system," said 26-year-old Nasir. "But I say that the feudal system is still strong in Pakistan and it's time people broke the shackles."
Despite their unofficial status, illegal and out-dated customs still prevail in Pakistan. Four months ago in the same area, a four-year-old was killed by her tribe after being declared "kari" or defiled by rape.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Ah, but we musn't judge other people's cultures...that wouldn't be PC.
That can be turned on its head. A very long time ago, a British officer and his men on patrol in India, happened across a village in which suttee was being performed - the ritual burning of a live wife along with her dead husband. The officer was appalled and told the villagers to stop it. The elder in the village said to him, "But sir, you have to let us do this, it's part of our traditions and culture."
The officer replied, "Very well, but then you must understand it's part of our traditions and culture to shoot people for doing this."
The woman was released.
Regards, Ivan
Its Bush's fault I would think, lol /sarcasm
Civilization and much the world are distant strangers
Funny he don't look like he's from Arkansaw
Too late... They're already senseless...
The "culture" simple needs to die.
Really, truly, honestly, what are the chances that 14 years from now:
1- Pakistan will still exist, in it's present form or at all.
2- The islamofreakozoid would-be "groom" will still be alive.
3- The girl will still be alive.
4- The girl, if still alive, will be "acceptable" to her would-be husband, not an "adultress" herself by having been raped (if she has not been already)
Planning too far ahead in a place with no future...
Pakistan is backwards......and in America, Hillary and Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy hold public office.
Where is Arkansaw?
You know right across the river from Missippy
"Human rights groups in Pakistan have condemned the panchayat's ruling which effectively decides the future of the girl's life before she is even able to talk."
Just ONCE I'd like to see a Human Rights Group (any one will do) protest abortion on demand, which also decides the future (or lack thereof) of other little girls' lives before they're able to talk. (Dreamin' on...)
and what happened to the adulteress in all this mess? I suppose her family has taken care of her.
Mrs VS
Savages.
Caddycorner to Lousyana.
Good one
I like your Unban the Banned page.
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