When a rape victim in a particular country receives 101 lashes and the rapist gets off scott-free, one can only assume that rape is condoned, and that message only encourages men to continue raping, knowing full well there will be no consequences for that violation. That’s the way it is in Bangladesh, and many other countries that re-victimize the victim by punishing them and not the rapists.
A 16-year-old Bangladeshi girl just received 101 lashes after it was revealed that she had become impregnated after being raped by 20-year-old Emamul Mia last April. At first she was reluctant to report the rape, because of the shame and stigma involved, although I’m sure much also had to do with the fact that rape victims are punishable by sharia law. But it wasn’t until she had been married off, after the attack, to a man in a neighbouring village, that it was discovered she was pregnant. Divorced after one month of marriage, the rape revealed, and forced to abort the child, the family of the rapist (and village elders) decided the girl and her family needed to be punished. So not only was a fatwa issued for the lashing, the father has also been fined 1,000. The rapist? Nothing.
Eight months after being raped, a 16-year-old at Khargor of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria had to receive 101 lashes as “punishment”.
A village arbitration found her guilty and issued the 101 lashes fatwa (religious edict) but amazingly left alleged rapist Enamul Mia, 20, untouched.
The arbitration also fined the victim’s father Tk 1,000 and issued another fatwa that her family would be forced into isolation if he failed to pay up
On January 17, the influential group arranged the arbitration at the yard of the victim.
At one stage of the inhuman torture, the girl collapsed and fainted. She regained her sense after two hours.
Ullashi presided over the arbitration while Wahid Mia, Basu Mia, Manik Mia, Shahjahan Mia, Dulal Mia, Maulana Md Kawser Mia, Imam of Gupinathpur Baro Mosque, Maulana Md Ishaque Mia, Imam of Khargor Jame Mosque, and a few others played key roles.
“Enamul has spoiled my life. I want justice,” said the girl as tears rolled down from her eyes.
In spite of being threatened not to take legal action, the family with the help of human rights activists plan on doing just that. Not that they will necessarily get any satisfaction. In a male-dominated culture, women rarely prevail when it comes to justice.
