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Islamic court revokes rape case acquittals
March 14, 2005
Islamabad - Pakistan's highest Islamic court on Friday threw out the
controversial acquittal of five men convicted of raping a woman on orders from
a village council in a case that shocked the world, saying a lower appeals
court had no jurisdiction to rule on the case.
The decision by the Federal Shariat Court was another twist in the case of
Mukhtar Mai, a 33-year-old woman who said she was raped in June 2003 after
elders in her village ordered the attack as punishment for her brother's
alleged illicit affair with a woman from another family.
Six men were sentenced to death in August 2003, but on March 3 the sentences of
five of them were overturned. A sixth man had his death sentence reduced to
life in prison. That decision produced a firestorm of criticism from human
rights groups both in Pakistan and around the world. Mai, who has won praise
for her bravery in coming forward to denounce the attack, wept as the ruling
was read out.
Thousands of Pakistani women rallied in Multan earlier this week demanding
justice and protection for Mai, who said she fears the men would seek revenge
if released.
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Rape
in Pakistan sparks rally by thousands
3-9-2005
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