Save This 10-year-old Girl From An "Honour" Killing
At just ten years old, Brishna is the survivor of a brutal rape.
Although a local mullah has been charged and awaits trial, powerful groups in the community want to kill Brishna for "bringing shame" on her family.
We need to act fast: death threats are pouring in — even from relatives and religious leaders.
After she was released from hospital, Brishna was taken to a shelter run by Women for Afghan Women for protection. Despite male relatives threatening to "kill her and dump her in the river" local police removed Brishna from the shelter and returned her to her family.
Honour killings are an ongoing problem in Afghanistan. Shockingly, Afghanistan's Penal Code recommends reduced sentences in murder cases when honour is the motivation. When a murderer is convicted for an honour killing, they receive no more than two years jail.
Demand Afghan authorities protect Brishna against the threat of an "honour" killing.
To protect Brishna's identity the girl in the photo is not her.
Your Excellency,
I write to you concerning 10-year-old Afghan girl, Brishna, from Kunduz Province.
[Your comments here]
I call on you to:
- urge authorities to ensure that Brishna receives full protection from the state, and that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent an "honour" killing against her;
- urge authorities to ensure that the suspected perpetrator is brought to justice in a fair trial, without recourse to the death penalty;
- call on authorities to investigate threats to kill Brishna, Dr Sarwari and other women rights defenders involved in the case, and urge them to provide immediate and effective protection to Dr Sarwari and other women human rights defenders in accordance with their wishes;
- unequivocally state that honour killings should be treated as serious criminal offences, and urge the repeal of Article 398 of the Afghan Penal Code to abolish reduced sentences for murder on the basis of honour as a motivation.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
