PAN, April 16, 2011

10-Year Old Afghan Girl Claims She Was Raped

The little girl had wounds in her head, face and body and was in a bad mental condition

By Yaqoub Ali Madni

A small girl, present in the administration of the Women’s Affairs of Sar-e-Pul, claimed she was raped by two of her uncles, but health officials say it has not been confirmed yet and further medical examinations are needed to prove the claim.

10-year old Nazanin, claimed that one year back her two step uncles raped her, and her paternal grandparents tortured, beat and poured hot oil on her.

10-year old Nazanin claimed she was raped by her uncles and beaten and tortured very badly when at her grandparents' home. (Photo: PAN)

The little girl had wounds in her head, face and body and was in a bad mental condition. She childishly told PAN, “My uncles did bad things to me.” She couldn’t say more due to her severe injuries.

Zulaikha, Nazanin’s mother who had brought her to the Women’s Affairs office, demanded the government arrest and punish the people involved. She said she had married again after the death of her first husband, and during this time her daughter loved with her grandparents in Khaksar Sheeram village in Howma, center of Sar-e-Pul.

Zulaikha said, “The incident took place a year back and I didn’t know about it.” She added that a religious scholar named Maulawi Nadir had brought her daughter to the city from the village, after finding out about the happenings from the local people.

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Dr. Haroon, head of the Sar-e-Pul Provincial Hospital, said that after gynecological and surgical examinations, a team of doctors found that the girl had been beaten, from the wounds all over hef body, and is no longer a virgin.

Dr. Haroon added, “We can’t be sure that this girl has been raped as there are other reasons for the tearing of the hymen.”

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Naseema Arzo, head of Women’s Affairs of Sar-e-Pul, said that the case had been reported to the Human Rights Office of Mazar-e-Sharif and they will come to Sar-e-Pul to investigate the case. She condemned the act.

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Religious scholars also condemn rape and call it a big sin.

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This act took place when a few days back, officials in the Women’s Affairs of Sar-e-Pul said that violence, beating and rape of children and women has decreased in Sar-e-Pul as compared to previous years.

Published originally on Apr. 7, 2011

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