Two sisters in India, one of whom
is only 15-years-old, have been “sentenced” to rape as
“punishment” after their brother had an affair with a married woman.
An unelected all-male village council in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh,
ordered that Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her teenage sister will also be paraded
through the streets naked, with blackened faces, as they are made to pay the
price for their brother’s alleged transgressions.
is only 15-years-old, have been “sentenced” to rape as
“punishment” after their brother had an affair with a married woman.
An unelected all-male village council in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh,
ordered that Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her teenage sister will also be paraded
through the streets naked, with blackened faces, as they are made to pay the
price for their brother’s alleged transgressions.
The Kumaris are Dalits, or
untouchables, placed at the very bottom of India’s ancient and archaic caste
system. According to Zee News, the pair’s brother Ravi fell in love with a girl
from the higher Jat caste, however the relationship was forbidden by the family
elders. The girl was then forcibly married off to another man in February, but
later eloped with Ravi. The Jat woman is now thought to be pregnant with his
child.
untouchables, placed at the very bottom of India’s ancient and archaic caste
system. According to Zee News, the pair’s brother Ravi fell in love with a girl
from the higher Jat caste, however the relationship was forbidden by the family
elders. The girl was then forcibly married off to another man in February, but
later eloped with Ravi. The Jat woman is now thought to be pregnant with his
child.
Meenakshi has filed a petition
with the Supreme Court asking for protection. Her father has also lodged a
complaint saying that his family has been harassed, not just by the family of
the woman who has eloped, but also by the police.
with the Supreme Court asking for protection. Her father has also lodged a
complaint saying that his family has been harassed, not just by the family of
the woman who has eloped, but also by the police.
The Khap panchayat, or village
council has now decided that the barbaric “punishment” will be
inflicted on the sisters as retribution. Sumit Kumar, another brother of
Meenakshi, said that ‘the Jat decision is final’, adding, ‘The police said
anyone can be murdered now.’
council has now decided that the barbaric “punishment” will be
inflicted on the sisters as retribution. Sumit Kumar, another brother of
Meenakshi, said that ‘the Jat decision is final’, adding, ‘The police said
anyone can be murdered now.’
Amnesty International has however
launched a petition calling on India’s authorities to intervene immediately and
protect the two sisters.
launched a petition calling on India’s authorities to intervene immediately and
protect the two sisters.
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