South Asia News
Afghan president pardons rape victim sent to jail for adultery
Dec 1, 2011, 19:02 GMT
Kabul - A woman jailed on adultery charges after becoming a victim of rape received a pardon from Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday, according to an official statement.
The statement also said relevant authorities had been tasked with taking the necessary action to establish 'conditional wedlock' of the girl and the man accused of raping her, after receiving 'consent on both the sides' and 'as per Islamic Sharia law.'
Gul Naz, 19, was jailed after she was raped by a relative. The statement did not say how long she had been in jail. Local media reported she had already served two and half years in prison.
Karzai took the decision after discussing the issue of rape and the woman's imprisonment with Afghanistan's chief justice, justice minister and attorney general, the statement said.
She has a child, born inside the prison after the rape, with her in detention.
Naz's story was the subject of a documentary funded by the European Union. The EU blocked it before it could be released because of fears its distribution could endanger her life.
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