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Pakistan stoning victim's husband condemns police | Pakistan stoning victim's husband condemns police |
(about 14 hours later) | |
The husband of a Pakistani woman stoned to death by her own family in broad daylight outside a Lahore court says police just stood by during the attack. | |
Farzana Parveen, who was three months pregnant, was pelted with bricks and bludgeoned by relatives furious because she married against their wishes. | |
"They watched Farzana being killed and did nothing," her husband, Muhammad Iqbal, told the BBC. | |
There are hundreds of so-called "honour killings" in Pakistan each year. | |
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said she was "deeply shocked" and urged Pakistan's government to take "urgent and strong measures". | UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said she was "deeply shocked" and urged Pakistan's government to take "urgent and strong measures". |
"I do not even wish to use the phrase 'honour killing': there is not the faintest vestige of honour in killing a woman in this way." | "I do not even wish to use the phrase 'honour killing': there is not the faintest vestige of honour in killing a woman in this way." |
Mr Iqbal described the police as "shameful" and "inhuman" for their failure to stop the attack. | Mr Iqbal described the police as "shameful" and "inhuman" for their failure to stop the attack. |
"We were shouting for help, but nobody listened. One of my relatives took off his clothes to capture police attention but they didn't intervene. | "We were shouting for help, but nobody listened. One of my relatives took off his clothes to capture police attention but they didn't intervene. |
Arranged marriages are the norm in Pakistan and to marry against the wishes of the family is unthinkable in many deeply conservative communities. | Arranged marriages are the norm in Pakistan and to marry against the wishes of the family is unthinkable in many deeply conservative communities. |
Shahzeb Jillani, BBC News, Karachi | |
This murder has appalled Pakistan's tiny but vocal civil society. Social media activists took to Twitter and Facebook to express their shock and horror. English language newspapers have published strongly-worded editorials to denounce the brutal crime. | |
But all that is in sharp contrast to the muted reaction in the mainstream Urdu language media which, instead, chose to focus on political and security-related stories. | |
This despite the fact that that killing of a woman in the name of honour remains an appalling reality in villages and towns across Pakistan. | |
As Dawn newspaper points out in its editorial: "The most shocking aspect of this killing, however, is that all the people witnessing the crime, even the law enforcers, were silent spectators as a woman was bludgeoned to her death." | |
Ms Parveen's father later surrendered to police but other relatives who took part in the attack are still free. | Ms Parveen's father later surrendered to police but other relatives who took part in the attack are still free. |
Mr Iqbal said they were threatening him and his family. | Mr Iqbal said they were threatening him and his family. |
"Yesterday [on Tuesday] they said they would snatch the dead body," he said. "We came here with a police escort." | |
"We arrested a few of them and others are currently being investigated," local police chief Mujahid Hussain said. | "We arrested a few of them and others are currently being investigated," local police chief Mujahid Hussain said. |
Dragged to floor | Dragged to floor |
Ms Parveen comes from a small town outside the city of Lahore. According to reports, her family were furious because she decided to marry Mr Iqbal instead of a man they had chosen. | |
Her relatives then filed a case for abduction against Mr Iqbal at the High Court. | |
Honour killings in Pakistan | |
• In 2013, 869 women murdered in so called "honour killings" | |
• Campaigners say real number is likely to be much higher | |
• Of these, 359 were so called "Karo Kari" cases, whereby family members consider themselves authorised to kill offending relatives to restore honour | |
• Rights groups say conviction rate in cases of sexual and other violence against women is "critically low" | |
Source: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan annual report 2013 | |
The newlyweds were only at the Lahore court to contest this case. Ms Parveen had already testified to police that she had married of her own free will. | |
Mr Iqbal told the BBC that when the couple arrived at the court on Tuesday to contest the case, his wife's relatives were waiting and tried to take her away. | Mr Iqbal told the BBC that when the couple arrived at the court on Tuesday to contest the case, his wife's relatives were waiting and tried to take her away. |
As she struggled to free herself they dragged her to the floor, pelted her with bricks and then smashed her head. She died on the pavement. | As she struggled to free herself they dragged her to the floor, pelted her with bricks and then smashed her head. She died on the pavement. |
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says 869 women were murdered in "honour killings" in the country last year, although it is believed that the real figure could be higher. | The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says 869 women were murdered in "honour killings" in the country last year, although it is believed that the real figure could be higher. |
Are you in Pakistan? Did you witness what happened? What is your reaction to the stoning in Lahore? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Stoning' in the heading, and including your contact details. | |
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