There are more reported cases of rape of girls under 18. Women’s and rights activists are concerned.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) recorded 40 cases of sexual attacks in the first eight months of last year.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) recorded 40 cases of sexual attacks in the first eight months of last year. Ninety percent of the victims were teenage girls – a jump of more than double when compared to the previous year.
Rape survivors and victims are blamed, rejected or killed by relatives or the community.
The most recent case is of a 16-year-old in Baghlan. Shaista was kidnapped by armed men, and raped. Her family killed her for bringing dishonour. A relative who did not want to be identified told the media: “Shaista was abducted by armed people related to a local commander and was gang-raped. As her father could do nothing against the aggressors he killed his daughter and buried her without a shroud.”
Though three of the men involved were later arrested by police in Baghlan her relatives blame the lack of immediate action for her father’s decision to kill Shaista.
In early November 2012 four members of the controversial Afghan Local Police (ALP) were found guilty of involvement in the rape of a Kuchi woman, believed to be 18. The men who included the unit commander Abdul Razaq said they would appeal the verdict.
Lal Bibi was abducted and raped in the Tobra Koosh area of Kunduz.She was assaulted in retaliation for the rape of the daughter of one of the men, called Khudaidad by her uncle’s son.
Bold testimony
According to Lal Bibi, who was bold enough to appear in court, four policemen – identified as GhulamSakhi, Khudaidad, Abdul Razaq and Akhtar Mohammad – “came to our house; they first tied my hands and put me in a Ranger car (the Datsun vehicle used by the military and police forces). When my father tried to prevent them they beat him. They took a sheep from our house as well. They took me to Khudaidad’s house.”
Denying the men’s claims that she was married to one of them, Lal Bibi said: “Khudaidad abused me sexually without any legal marriage for one week in retaliation for the rape of his daughter, Rahela.”
While the unit commander and Khudaidad were sentenced to 16 years in jail, the two others who were accomplices were convicted to one year in prison.
Meanwhile, in Herat an appeal court sentenced to death a man accused of raping his young daughter on Nov 11, 2012. The trial was held in the presence of civil society and women’s rights activists. Though the accused claimed his innocence the prosecution was able to prove he had raped and abused his daughter Zahra.
AIHRC’s women’s rights coordinator Latifa Sultani said most of the reported cases of sexual attacks were from “insecure areas of north-east and south of the country”. Deputy Attorney General Rahmatullah Nazari said 1,320 cases had been investigated since the establishment of a special office for the elimination of violence against women in 2010. The cases included complaints of wife beating to forced marriages and murder of women by husbands and relatives. The sentences have been varied: from a fine of 6,000 Afs (120 USD) to 16 years in prison.
Prejudiced views
Latifa Sultani said people are starting to report cases because of “rising awareness”. “Sexual aggression is not a new phenomenon,” she said. “But people did not divulge the cases due to taboos on chastity. Now due to rising awareness levels they don’t want to hide the crimes.” However, she adds that in most cases the women are blamed for the sexual attack. “In the contact we have with women they say they are not treated as the victims (of rape) but as criminals (for letting it happen),” said the AIHRC’s women’s rights coordinator.
Mahbooba Seraj of the Afghan Women’s Network told Killid that families abandon women who have been sexually assaulted. “Several organisations are supporting victims in safe houses as they don’t have the support of their families and remain alone and forlorn.”
Recently the non-governmental Development and Support of Afghan Women and Children Organisation collected 3,000 signatures including that of lawmakers and ordinary people in support of implementation of law on elimination of violence against women.
The Afghanistan Women’s Network sent an open letter to President Hamid Karzai on Dec 23 last year urging him to pay attention to the immense problems faced by girls and women. The letter states in a part that the president as head of the government and protector of the Constitution must hear the voice of the tyrannised women.
There is growing concern that gains made by women in the last decade may be lost in negotiations with the Taleban for a lasting peace in the country. The Taleban continue to reject women’s rights guaranteed under the Afghan Constitution. One of their preconditions for returning to peace negotiations is the framing of a new constitution.
