nachtspiegel
March 17th, 2009, 05:20 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7947458.stm
Pakistan rape victim gets married
A Pakistani gang rape victim who won international acclaim as a campaigner for women's rights has married.
Mukhtar Mai was raped by four men in her village as a punishment after her 12-year-old brother was accused of adultery in 2002.
She ignored taboos about her ordeal and fought to have her attackers convicted.
Since then Mukhtar Mai has become a champion for women's rights in her country and an internationally- recognised figure.
Six men arrested and sentenced to death in connection with the gang rape are still in custody pending a retrial.
Ms Mai had said she was not sure she would ever marry, but on Sunday wed police constable Nasir Abbas Gabol in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Since being raped she has also written a best-selling autobiography and opened a school and a chain of women's crisis centres in Pakistan.
Mukhtar Mai won widespread international support when she spoke out after being raped - allegedly on the order of a village council.
In 2005, she was honoured as Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine in a ceremony in Washington.
The award praised Ms Mai for "her incredible courage and optimism in the face of terrible violence".
Critics of Pakistan's judicial system and social systems say the Mukhtar Mai case is an example of appalling treatment often handed out to women, particularly in feudal, rural areas.
Her rape was allegedly ordered by a village council as a punishment for a misdemeanour blamed on her brother.
Related Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4620065.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4330335.stm
Pakistan rape victim gets married
A Pakistani gang rape victim who won international acclaim as a campaigner for women's rights has married.
Mukhtar Mai was raped by four men in her village as a punishment after her 12-year-old brother was accused of adultery in 2002.
She ignored taboos about her ordeal and fought to have her attackers convicted.
Since then Mukhtar Mai has become a champion for women's rights in her country and an internationally- recognised figure.
Six men arrested and sentenced to death in connection with the gang rape are still in custody pending a retrial.
Ms Mai had said she was not sure she would ever marry, but on Sunday wed police constable Nasir Abbas Gabol in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Since being raped she has also written a best-selling autobiography and opened a school and a chain of women's crisis centres in Pakistan.
Mukhtar Mai won widespread international support when she spoke out after being raped - allegedly on the order of a village council.
In 2005, she was honoured as Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine in a ceremony in Washington.
The award praised Ms Mai for "her incredible courage and optimism in the face of terrible violence".
Critics of Pakistan's judicial system and social systems say the Mukhtar Mai case is an example of appalling treatment often handed out to women, particularly in feudal, rural areas.
Her rape was allegedly ordered by a village council as a punishment for a misdemeanour blamed on her brother.
Related Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4620065.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4330335.stm