Deutsche Welle Dari (Translated by RAWA), September 15, 2012

Girl publicly lashed in Ghazni province

By Hussein Seerat

A 16-year old girl was lashed by local mullahs (clerics) in Jaghori district of Ghazni province on charges of what have been called illicit relations. This was carried out in the absence of legal and humanitarian institutions.

Zafar Sharif, district chief of Jaghori said that details of the case are still not clear and the investigation is going on.

The incident took place about one and a half weeks ago in Hotoqol area of Jaghori district. This is the first time such an event has occurred in Jaghori district.

Abdul Ahad Farzam, head of the regional office of the Independent Human Rights Commission, said in an interview with Deutsche Welle, that the case was being reviewed by a panel of the commission. Mr. Farzam said, “Investigations are underway by interviewing victims and witnesses.” He said after the completion of investigation, the details of the incident will be made available to the press.

Details of the case

An eyewitness who requested anonymity told Deutsche Welle that the local mullahs had accused a girl of having had illicit sexual relations and lashed her 80 times in a football field in Hotoqol area.

First, the parents of the girl were beaten by their relatives because of the matter, and this incident made the mullahs aware of the issue.

Before taking the case to judicial and legal bodies, the local mullahs gathered the people of the area in a field to implement the punishment according to the Islamic law.

Meanwhile, the man accused of having sexual relations with the girl, was freed by the mullahs after he denied having relations with the girl, but she was sentenced to 80 lashes.

According to eyewitnesses, after the girl was flogged, the district chief of Jaghori went to the area and requested the mullahs not to carry out such illegal actions, but he was threatened by armed men.

Edited by Asif Husseini

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