India Culture, Business, Sports and Food. Get all the buzz in India now

Incident In a shocking development, a young Muslim woman who was raped by her father-in-law has been “punished” with a divorce from her husband by a community panchayat that now finds her marriage ‘illegal’. This is exactly the replay of the Imrana case after three years that has caught the nations’ attention. Ms Hamid-un-Nisha, 25, was raped by her father-in-law Mr. Ramzan Ali in Bahrawan village in Gorakhpur district. Her husband Mr. Abdul Rashid works in Dubai.

Panchayat She told about the incident to her relatives and also to her husband when he returned after a few days. As the news of the incident spread, a panchayat was convened on Wednesday June 25 in which representatives from 28 panchayats of neighboring villages took part. Ali admitted before the panchayat that he had raped Hamid-un-Nisha and pleaded guilty. He has been let off with a monetary fine of Rs 35,000 to be paid to the victim by the panchayat. Hamid-un-Nisha was told that since she had sex with her father-in-law, her marriage with Rashid was ‘haraam’ (illegal) and she stood divorced. 

Replay of Imrana Case Since the matter was resolved in the panchayat no FIR has been registered in the case. .  It may be recalled that in June 2005, Imrana was raped by her father-in-law in Muzaffarnagar district. The community panchayat in the village had declared her marriage illegal and had asked the victim to treat her husband as her ‘son.’ Despite of protests Imrana had lodged a case her father-in –law, who was later on sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment but Imrana is facing social ostracism in her village and community even today.

Nationwide Debate The case once again has triggered off a nationwide debate on Shariat and women’s rights. Ms Hamid-un-Nisha has been punished though she is a victim. Once again the narrow minded followers of a religion to prove their dedication have spoiled a life and the victim was forced to leave her house and to stay with her parents. And for more surprise the husband of the victim acted only like a spectator and maintained a neutral stand on the issue. In such circumstance an innocent victim has been forced to resolve to the fate and she is victim of the crime committed by the whole society. Rules are made for the welfare and well being of the society, society is not made for rules. It is an inhuman act, committed by so called ‘protectors’ of society and all those who are responsible must not be spared.