Pakistan: In an apparent ‘honour killing’ a 25-year-old pregnant woman was stoned to death by her own family at the gate of Lahore High Court in Pakistan Tuesday for marrying the man of her choice.
According to Police, Farzana Parveen, resident of Faisalabad, had married Mohammad Iqbal of Jaranwala a few months ago against the wishes of her family.
Nearly 20 people attacked both the husband and wife in broad daylight before a crowd of people and in the presence of security guards. The husband later described how police watched the attack silently. Farzana, who was three-months pregnant, died while her husband managed to escape.
Here is what the BBC wrote (click here)
Later it was discovered that husband Mohammed Iqbal had previously been married and had killed his first wife so he could marry his lover Farzana Parveen. Though he spent a year in jail his son Aurangzeb later forgave him under Pakistan’s notorious Qisas and Diyat Laws, which allows murderers and rapists to avoid sentences by paying a bribe. These laws are derived from the Quran and the Hadith and have resulted in many husbands being excused of killing their wives by forgiving children. Read more in CNN article (here).
Apparently Mr Iqbal had an agreement for his marriage with the family of Farzana Parveen for which he paid an 80,000 Pak-Rupee dowrie. However, after the mother of Farzana Parveen died the family changed their mind and tried to arrange her marriage with her cousin.
A sister of the Farzana Parveen has now tried to allege that Mr Iqbal is responsible for the murder of her sister, despite being aware that her family killed another sister for similar ‘dishonour’. It is inevitable therefore with such family support, that Farzana Parveen’s father and brother will also escape a murder sentence through the same Qisas and Diyat laws, that have allowed Mr Iqbal to roam free. Read more in Huffington Post (here).
On Thursday,29 May,2014,Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took notice of the murder of a 25-year-old pregnant woman during an honour killing in front of Lahore High Court. He has ordered an inquiry into why the police apparently stood by during the whole incident.
Advocates for Asia Bibi a Christian women accused of blasphemy were present at the Lahore High Court when this incident happened. The violence broke out during the Appeal hearing of the Christian mother of five; which was again cancelled unexpectedly.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:
“Pakistani Muslims are killing each other on the streets due to a perceived dishonour when a woman chose to marry the man she loves.
“Police stood back and watched while the pregnant mother was killed by a crowd of frenzied murderers.
“What hope must this give to a Christian women whose court case has been paused due to a murder left to happen by authorities at the gates of a senior court.
“As Christian woman accused of blasphemy, Asia is perceived to have dishonoured and entire Muslim nation.
“These false allegations may result in a similar murder of Asia Bibi if the state fails to protect her.”
