ISLAMABAD: NGO’s, Human Rights Activists, civil society and a large number of people condemning the public flogging of 17-year old girl in Swat by the Taliban have demanded establishment of government’s writ and an immediate end to Nizam-e-Adl established in the valley.
The video first released on The Guardian and than shown by all major Pakistani news networks on Friday showing the public flogging of a 17 year old girl in Swat for going outside her house without a male attendant sent a wave of shudder amongst not only the general public but Ulema, NGOs and human rights activists.
The two-minute video, shot using a mobile phone, shows a burka-clad woman face down on the ground. Two men hold her arms and feet while a third, a black-turbaned fighter with a flowing beard, whips her repeatedly.
"Please stop it," she begs, alternately whimpering or screaming in pain with each blow to the backside. "Either kill me or stop it now."
A crowd of men stands by, watching silently. Off camera a voice issues instructions. "Hold her legs tightly," he says as she squirms and yelps.
After 34 lashes the punishment stops and the wailing woman is led into a stone building, trailed by a Kalashnikov-carrying militant.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed responsibility for the flogging. "She came out of her house with another guy who was not her husband, so we must punish her. There are boundaries you cannot cross," he said.
He defended the Taliban’s right to thrash women shoppers who were inappropriately dressed, saying it was permitted under Islamic law.
Tahira Abdullah a human Rights activist condemning the gruesome incident said no human let alone a Muslim can ever commit such an act. She demanded of President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Yousaf Raza Gilani, ANP chief Asfand Yar Wali to take notice of this incident and immediately end the peace agreement with the Taliban in Swat and abolish the Nizam-e-Adl system.
She said that Sufi Mohammad, the man who brokered the peace deal between the government and the Taliban, must be summoned and conveyed that the Shariat based Nizam-e-Adl is being abolished.
She said that Islam and the image of Pakistan is being maligned at the hands of few Taliban.
Sherry Rehman former Information Minister said that our society nor Islam permits such acts of violence against women. Condemnation alone is not enough and action should be taken against such acts. She asked the government to hold no soft corners.
Sanam Minullah a human rights activist, condemning the flogging asked the religious parties to wake up and take notice of the situation. She wondered what sort of a religion are we preaching by dishonoring a woman in front of crowd of men. She said that we are portraying wrong image of Islam and the provincial government should condemn the incident and take action.
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