Pakistani tribal council arrested for ordering teen girl to be burned alive
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pakistani tribal council arrested for ordering teen girl to be burned alive, 5 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576900ba6.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 05, 2016
Pakistani police have arrested 15 members of a tribal council accused of ordering the burning alive of a young girl for helping a couple to elope.
Saeed Wazir, the district police chief in the town of Donga Gali, about 50 kilometers northeast of Islamabad, said on May 5 that the 16-year-old girl was set on fire last week in a so-called honor killing ordered by the tribal council.
Wazir said the tribal council ordered the punishment for what it deemed to be irreparable damage to the village's reputation.
The couple appeared to have escaped from the area.
Authorities said the girl's mother and brother were among those arrested because they were present during the tribal council's meeting and allegedly agreed to its sentence.
Tribal council often are called in Pakistan's northwest regions as a way to resolve local conflicts.
But their edicts have no legal authority under Pakistani law.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Dawn.com
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
