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Family Kills Pakistani Couple After They Married for Love Family Kills Pakistani Couple After They Married for Love
(2 months later)
LAHORE, Pakistan — A young Pakistani couple were tied up and killed, their throats slit with a scythe, after they married for love, the police in Pakistan said Saturday. LAHORE, Pakistan — A young Pakistani couple were tied up and killed, their throats slit with a scythe, after they married for love, the police in Pakistan said Saturday.
The couple, a 17-year-old girl and a 31-year-old man, married on June 18 without the consent of their families in Satrah, a village in Punjab Province in eastern Pakistan, the police said.The couple, a 17-year-old girl and a 31-year-old man, married on June 18 without the consent of their families in Satrah, a village in Punjab Province in eastern Pakistan, the police said.
The girl’s mother and father lured the couple home on Thursday with the promise that their marriage would receive the family’s blessing, Rana Zashid, a local police official, said.The girl’s mother and father lured the couple home on Thursday with the promise that their marriage would receive the family’s blessing, Rana Zashid, a local police official, said.
“When the couple reached there, they tied them with ropes,” Mr. Zashid said. The girl’s father then “cut their throats,” he said.“When the couple reached there, they tied them with ropes,” Mr. Zashid said. The girl’s father then “cut their throats,” he said.
The police arrested the family members, who said they were embarrassed by the marriage of their daughter, Muafia Hussein, to a man from what they considered to be a less important tribe.The police arrested the family members, who said they were embarrassed by the marriage of their daughter, Muafia Hussein, to a man from what they considered to be a less important tribe.
In many areas of Pakistan, the killing of a woman whose behavior is seen as immodest is accepted according to traditions.In many areas of Pakistan, the killing of a woman whose behavior is seen as immodest is accepted according to traditions.
In recent killings, behavior considered to be immodest has included singing, looking out of a window or talking to a man who is not a relative. For a woman to marry a man of her own choice is considered an unacceptable insult by many families.In recent killings, behavior considered to be immodest has included singing, looking out of a window or talking to a man who is not a relative. For a woman to marry a man of her own choice is considered an unacceptable insult by many families.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 869 so-called honor killings were reported in the news media last year. But the true figure is probably much higher because many cases are never reported.The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 869 so-called honor killings were reported in the news media last year. But the true figure is probably much higher because many cases are never reported.
The Pakistani government, struggling to cope with a weak economy and a Taliban insurgency, does not collect centralized statistics and has no strategy to combat the killings.The Pakistani government, struggling to cope with a weak economy and a Taliban insurgency, does not collect centralized statistics and has no strategy to combat the killings.
Even if a woman’s killer is convicted, Pakistani law allows her family to forgive the killer, who then goes free.Even if a woman’s killer is convicted, Pakistani law allows her family to forgive the killer, who then goes free.
Many families simply nominate a member to do the killing, then formally forgive the killer.Many families simply nominate a member to do the killing, then formally forgive the killer.
Such was the case last week when a tribal council in the Muzaffargarh district in central Pakistan sentenced another couple to death for marrying for love.Such was the case last week when a tribal council in the Muzaffargarh district in central Pakistan sentenced another couple to death for marrying for love.
That couple’s lawyer, Zia Kiyyani, said the two had appealed for police protection after their marriage on June 21, but had not received any.That couple’s lawyer, Zia Kiyyani, said the two had appealed for police protection after their marriage on June 21, but had not received any.
The family of Mehreen Bibi, 19, met her to take her from her husband’s family, swearing on the Quran that they would not harm her and would hold a proper wedding ceremony, Mr. Kiyyani said.The family of Mehreen Bibi, 19, met her to take her from her husband’s family, swearing on the Quran that they would not harm her and would hold a proper wedding ceremony, Mr. Kiyyani said.
“During this the girl shouted, cried and mourned for her life and her husband’s life because she knew that they will kill both of them,” he said.“During this the girl shouted, cried and mourned for her life and her husband’s life because she knew that they will kill both of them,” he said.
When she returned home, the police said, a family member shot her. Her husband went into hiding, and her father registered the murder complaint so he could forgive the killer, Mr. Kiyyani said. “That will end the case,” he said.When she returned home, the police said, a family member shot her. Her husband went into hiding, and her father registered the murder complaint so he could forgive the killer, Mr. Kiyyani said. “That will end the case,” he said.