PAN, January 1, 2013

Rape victim’s Father says Daughter was Detained by Police, Powerful Rapist Freed

The father accused local police of keeping his daughter at a detention centre for five days, instead of putting hand on the powerful man

Father of a 15-year-old rape victim has appealed to President Hamid Karzai to bring the rapist to justice and award him capital punishment.

The incident took place in northwestern Badakhshan province during the holy month of Ramadan, when Najaf, 15, was allegedly raped by a man identified as Faramoz in Shokh Hazar village of Yaftal Payan district, the victim's father, Gul Rahman, said.

16-year old Shakila's dead body drenched in blood. A member of the Bamyan Provincial Council, Wahidi Beheshti, was accused of killing her in his own house in Bamyan province on January 22, 2012. She had been raped by Beheshti and then killed with a gun of his bodyguard.

"On the day, Faramoz's wife took my daughter to their house, where she was intoxicated before being rapped," he charged. The accused has eight children from his two wives.

The father accused local police of keeping his daughter at a detention centre for five days, instead of putting hand on the powerful man.

"Nobody heard our voice. I want to convey my message to the president that an extreme punishment be given to the man who is not a human," Rahman said, adding the culprit, who pretends to be insane, travels freely.

"Our appeals were rejected when Faramoz proved himself mentally-sick in connivance with a doctor he bribed," he alleged. The father said he lodged a complaint with the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in Kabul two days ago after his calls for justice in home province fell on deaf ears.

"I am not sure the AGO will take any action because the rapist is relative of Kofab district chief and legislator Fawzia Kofi," a perturbed Rahman said.

However, Kofi's secretary, Rawajudin, said the accused had no relation with the lawmaker.

The governor's spokesman, Abdul Maroof Rasikh, said Faramoz was under treatment at a hospital in Kabul. "He fell into coma after being dropped from his horse during a Buzkashi game six months ago," the official said.

"The girl would remain at the women shelter till investigation into the charge is completed and a court order is received," the gubernatorial spokesman said.

An intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police had arrested the accused, but transferred him to Kabul for a medical examination.

Characters Count: 2787