The girls have pleaded that during their infancy/childhood they were given in
Nikah (verbally) in a compromise in a dispute over a murder and now they are
getting education while their so-called spouses have turned out to be illiterate
and vagabonds. On their (girls) refusal to be married two of their brothers were
shot and injured and were admitted to the DHQ Hospital by their spouses only a
few days back.
According to Amnesty this is not a unique case:
In March 2004, a case was brought in front of a judge in Dadu, Sindh province,
regarding the sale of Akthiar, a 7-year-old girl to a 35-year-old man for
marriage. The girl’s mother appeared with her in court to protest the sale of
her daughter, by her husband to Ali Hassan, a resident of Mazdoorabad Moholla in
Dadu for Rs. 18,000 (300 USD). Akthiar managed to escape. Since then Ali Hassan
has attempted to kidnap her back, and her mother is seeking protection for her
daughter. An investigation into the incident was called for by the judge.
Khaleej Times also published an article on the same topic.
There are no reliable statistics for how many girls are given away in swara
or vani every year in Pakistan. Rights activists say most cases go unreported in
the conservative tribal communities.
"The victim of such practices is voiceless and helpless because the two
parties involved in the deal are too powerful to be challenged...by the girl,"
said Khattack.
"They get away with it because there is local communal consensus," he said,
and called for joint efforts by the government and civil society to stop the
practice.
2 comments:
Very horrendous indeed.. To add to that have you heard of the burning of young girls given in marriage to fuedal lords?.
I had a friend in pakistan, I didnt really know her that well except for seeing her once or twice a year because she was my cousins neighbour. Her family sold her to a feudal lord's son and got a hefty price in return. You will be shocked to learn ..that her end was very sad..
I remember reading about her in the papers when they found her bruised remains in the back of a car..she was apparently expecting..I cant get into the rest of the details. :'(
These people with their power, money, and ignorance have forgotten that we will all one day stand infront of our Lord and will be questioned..
May Allah (Swt) save us from ignorance.
When Allah Swt created Ignorance, he asked it to come forward, Instead of coming forward it stepped back, and when Allah (Swt) said to it, Leave! It came forward. Allah (Swt) said that day, that none of my creation is more hateful to me than Ignorance (Mutual reminding and Good Manners - The Two Treaties By Imam Al Hadad).
Ignorance is our worst enemy, and that is the only reason we have these crimes going on unpunished in our country.
Wait till you read this ..the times of ignorance are upon us again.
Sara and I watched water by deepa mehta last week. Although this film relates to the plight of widows the issue of child brides was also brought up. It's dismaying to see such practices occuring in Pakistan. There seems to be so much ignorance and injustice in the remote regions of the land.
--B
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