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Three years ago in June 2003, Mukhtar Mai was gang
raped in Pakistan. This attack was allegedly ordered
by a village elder. Mukhtar Mai took legal action, drawing
attention to the humiliation she faced. The world was
shocked by the case, yet the most shocking fact to arise
was the fact that Mai’s rape case was not a one off
attack, there are many more women in Pakistan and India
who are abused in many ways, yet they will not speak
up.
Many of the attacks on women are based
upon the honour-and-shame cultures that exist in both
India and Pakistan, bringing shame onto ones family
is seen to be the worst thing a woman can do. The rape
of Mukhtar Mai was described as a ‘honour rape’, not
because SHE had bought shame upon her family but instead
her attack was provoked as revenge for Mai’s brother
been seen with a woman from a different caste. Shockingly
Mai’s rapists were acquitted of the rape charge, it
is only now that the Pakistani Supreme Court has suspended
the acquittals and there is a chance for justice.
It is now that we should attempt to
raise awareness of how little progress has been made
to gain equal rights for females in India and Pakistan.
It has been reported that for women in these countries,
rather than reporting rapes, the best option for them
is suicide, as the number of arrests and convictions
do not match the number of reported cases. In some reported
cases the victim is harassed rather than supported.
The government is too worried about the woman making
them look bad than bringing justice and arresting the
rapist.
Rape is not the only form of abuse these
woman face; there have been reports of women being burned
alive by their mother-in-laws, or violently abused by
their husbands/fathers, and the law turns a blind eye
as the torture and abuse of these women has been ordered
for honorary reasons. Therefore it is our job now to
raise awareness of the abuse these women face and to
do what we can to help. Mai’s court case is one step
forward, though to us this may seem to be a small step,
in the eyes of women in Pakistan and India it is a large
step, women may now feel like they can report attacks
without feeling that they are fighting a losing battle.
Article by Sharon Rai
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