[ALOCHONA] Rape, divorce, lashes - triple hurt for Bangladeshi girl

Rape, divorce, lashes - triple hurt for Bangladeshi girl   

 

Sunday 24th January, 2010     

 

Life couldn't be more unfair to a teenaged Bangladeshi girl, who was first raped, then divorced on being found that she had conceived before marriage, and finally administered 101 lashes for her 'sins'.

It doesn't stop at this!

The alleged rapist, Enamul Mia, 20, was let off by village arbitrators who awarded her 101 lashes, the Daily Star newspaper said Sunday.

Eight months after being raped, village arbitrators found the 16-year-old at Khargor village of Kasba upazila (sub-division) in Brahmanbaria district, guilty and issued the fatwa (religious edict) for 101 lashes.

The arbitration also fined the victim's father Taka 1,000 ($160) and issued another fatwa that her family would be ostracised if he failed to pay up.

Village matbar (local leader) Delwar Hossain alias Ullashi executed the durra (lashes) Jan 17.

The report quoted the girl's family sources as saying Enamul Mia of Gabbari used to tease the girl on her way to school. He raped her April last year. Fearing shame, the girl did not disclose the incident.

She was married off to a man of a neighbouring village but was divorced after a month as medical test revealed that she was seven months pregnant.

She lived at her father's place after an abortion.

A group of so-called matbars, led by Manik Mia, declared that her family is to be isolated until she was punished.

The influential group arranged the arbitration Jan 17 that ruled against the girl.

At one stage of the torture, the girl collapsed and fainted. She regained consiousness after two hours.

'Enamul has spoiled my life. I want justice,' said the girl as she sobbed away silently.

Talking to the Daily Star, the neighbours spoke in favour of the girl and blamed Enamul but did not dare to say anything against the so-called village arbitration.

A team of human rights activists led by advocate Mili Chowdhury visited the village.

Their organisation will help the victim file separate cases against the culprits, Mili said.

Three women have been whipped as a result of fatwas in the district during the last six months, the report said.

 

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