July 8, 2002

A Pakistani tribal council recently ordered the gang rape of an 18-year-old girl as a punishment to her family after her younger brother was seen walking with a girl from a higher class. The rape occurred June 22 in the southern Punjab province, the Associated Press reported.

Two men suspected of committing the rape were arrested July 7; the remaining two are still at large. The Mastoi tribe claimed their honor was violated when the victim's 11-year-old brother was seen walking unescorted with a Mastoi girl in a deserted part of the village. The victim and her brother are members of the lower-class Gujar tribe.

The Mastoi tribe called a council meeting and ordered that the boy's sister be gang-raped to avenge the tribe's honor. She was taken to a hut and brutalized while hundreds of Mastois stood outside laughing and cheering, according to the victim.

"That this was allowed to happen is astonishing and revolting," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "We demand that all those involved be brought to justice."