Teenage Pakistani rape victim dies after setting herself ablaze

A teenage Pakistani victim of a gang rape dies after setting herself on fire in protest at a police report that led to the release of a key suspect. Nathan Frandino reports.

Published

about 4 years ago

Categories

World

Topics

World, Legal, Asia, Human Rights

People

Nathan Frandino, Amina Bibi

Places

Pakistan, Punjab

Transcript

WARNING-STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES A daughter in flames. A mother in anguish. And a public act of desperation in Pakistan. A 17-year-old gang rape victim has died after setting herself on fire. She was protesting a police report that freed a key suspect in her case. The girl doused herself with gas outside a police station Thursday in the eastern province of Punjab. The flames charred and distorted her face. (SOUNDBITE) (Seraiki) UNNAMED MOTHER OF RAPE VICTIM AMINA BIBI WHO SET HERSELF ABLAZE, SAYING: "She said: 'They are not returning my uniform, and they have also released my offender.' Then she set herself on fire." The family says the girl was raped by five men who kidnapped her at gunpoint as she walked home in January. Rape and other forms of sexual assault are widespread in the deeply conservative country.