TOLOnews.com, February 2, 2011


Young Girl Raped in Western Afghanistan by Provincial Security Forces

After a couple of days, security forces in the district arrested one of the rapists, but after he was identified to be a bodyguard of the district chief, he was released without punishment

A young Afghan girl was abducted from her family and then raped by provincial security forces in western Herat province.

Rape of girl in Herat

Rape of girl in Herat
Fauzia (above) claimed she was raped by local security forces belonging to a commander named Ghafar. Her father (below) told TOLOnews that security forces in the district arrested one of the rapists, but after he was identified to be a bodyguard of the district chief, he was released without punishment. "Farhad, the District Chief, came and released the rapist. Then he took him along with himself," Fauzia's father told TOLOnews.

Father of the raped girl told TOLOnews that around 20 days ago bodyguards of Chesht District Chief in Herat rushed into their home at night and kidnapped his daughter.

Fauzia, the victim in her twenties, said she was raped by five individuals.

Members of the family warned to commit suicide if the government ignored to bring those responsible to justice.

Chesht District Chief, Farhad, dismissed the allegation calling it baseless.

Late at night, a number of armed individuals broke into her house, beat her father and took me away to neighbouring Badghis province, Fauzia said.

She said she was kept in a house, owned by a local commander, for over eight nights.

"They took me to a house and four of them are Ghafar's men. And they did this to me," Fauzia told TOLOnews.

Father of the girl, around 70, said he reported the incident to security forces, but they didn't take serious action.

After a couple of days, security forces in the district arrested one of the rapists, but after he was identified to be a bodyguard of the district chief, he was released without punishment, Fauzia's father said.

"Farhad, the District Chief, came and released the rapist. Then he took him along with himself," Fauzia's father told TOLOnews.

Herat Governor's Spokesperson said investigations are going on and three individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.

"Law is equally applicable on all Afghans, including government and non-government officials. I want to assure that they will all be arrested and punished," Herat Governor's Spokesperson Behrozian told TOLOnews.

Fauzia's parents urged President Karzai to apply full weight of the law over the criminals.

It is believed that government does not take serious action about such cases and even in some cases ignore human rights violations by influential people in the remote areas.

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