Bangladesh: Woman whipped mercilessly in public
Rahima Akter, a 26-year-old destitute woman.. was whipped mercilessly in public based on an Islamic fatwa over claim of paternity of her child Ramzan in a remote village Noagon in Daudkandi, Bangladesh.
Rahima’s Mother Rasheda Begum told Asia News that Rahima had developed a relation with Abdul Karim of the same village, and gave birth to the child; they moved from door to door for arbitration on the claim of paternity of the child, but without any result.
Around 8 p.m. on May 22, a 6-member Fatwa committee, led Maulana Abul Kashem started the arbitration in the local Noagon Ayesha Sidikka Nurani Hafizia Madrasa (Islamic School), jam-packed with around 200-400 peoples people; the arbitration continued until midnight. Mr. Karim, the alleged father of the child, denied paternity by touching the Koran in front of the committee.
Then Maulana Abul Kashem, who led the fatwa committee, then asked to Rahima said to say truth by touching Koran, she did. But, the Maulana called her as a liar. Rahima then demanded DNA testing of Karim.
Ignoring the request, Maulana Kashem issued a fatwa that Rahima should be whipped 100 times, according to Islamic law for fornication, as she was a single mother. The fatwa committee, said Rohima’s mother, asked her father Abdul Matin to tie her hands, and they whipped her in front of her father…
“I was standing there as a very helpless mother in the midst of Mullas and full of people,” said Rahima’s mother, “wondering that who will come to help us, no one came to help us, all stood by the side of the Mullas…”
Jahanara, Abdul Karim’s Mother, told Asia News, “Allah Knows that Rahima is a liar and the Mullas treated her according to Sariah.” Hafez Hafizullah of the Noagon Ayesha Sidikka Nurani Hafizia Madrasa told Asia News that, Rahima was whipped according to the Islamic Sahria, and as a Muslim she should accept the ruling.
Via Asia News
