Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)の情報によれば、パキスタンのバローチースターン州で、3人の未成年の少女を含む5人の女性が生き埋めにされました。しかし加害者のひとりが州の有力な政治家の弟であるため、事件は報道されず、事件後1ヶ月を経ても、加害者は逮捕されていないということです。
少女たちは、部族リーダーの決定にそむいて、自ら選んだ相手と結婚するために、法的手続きをとろうとしていましたが、それを知った加害者と6人の男性が、少女たちと母親、叔母を脅して誘拐し、少女たちを銃で撃ったあとに埋めようとしました。それに抗議した2人の女性も、生き埋めにされたとのことです。
加害者は以前にも、法的手続きにのっとって結婚しようとしたカップルとドライバーを殺害したことがあるが、訴追を免れているということです。AHRCによる詳細はこちら
アジア女性資料センターは、8月18日、この事件について強い懸念を表明し、警察の捜査を速やかに開始し、有力者の関与についても厳正に捜査して処罰するよう求める以下のレターを、パキスタン大使館あてに送りました。

—————————————–

His Excellency Mr. Kamran Niaz
Ambassador of Pakistan to Japan
Embassy of Pakistan
2-14-9 Moto-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

CC: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani; President Pervez Musharraf; and Governor of Balochistan, Mr. Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi

August 18, 2008

Your Excellency:

The Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Centre is an organization dedicated to upholding women’s human rights and social justice. We are deeply dismayed to hear of the gruesome killings of five women from the village of Mir Wah, Tehseel Tumboo, in the Naseerabad district of the, Balochistan province, in early July 2008. It is extremely worrisome that the three girls who choose to marry against the wishes of the elders in their tribe and the women who supported these girls were not safe from Jirga-dictated punishment―despite the ban on this type punishment from Pakistan’s higher courts.

It is urgent that police register the killings of these five women: Ms. Fatima, wife of Umeed Ali Umrani, 45 years old; Ms.Jannat Bibi, wife of Qaiser Khan, 38 years old; Ms.Fauzia, daughter of Ata Mohammad Umrani, 18 years; and two other girls, whose names are unknown, between 16 to 18 years of age. It has been over one month since their deaths, and it is unclear what, if any, action has been taken.

Further, we urge you to ensure that a case is opened against Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani, brother of the provincial minister Mr. Sadiq Umrani, and the six other persons alleged to have abducted these women, beaten the three girls, and buried them all alive. When contacted about the killings, Mr. Sadiq Umrani suggested that only three women had been killed, that the perpetrators were unknown, and that his brother was not involved in this case. However, whether or not Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani was involved in the killings of these five women, a provincial government vehicle is confirmed to have been involved in the abduction of these women, and we are concerned that this is why police have been reluctant to take action.

In order for those responsible for these shocking and gruesome killings to be brought to justice, we ask you to please insure that immediate and full investigation is taken in this case.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Sincerely,

Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Centre

Endorsed by Friends of RAWA, Japan and 8 individuals