Dura lex, sed lex... well, not too dura here.
LUCKNOW, India — A man in northern India will be publicly slapped 51 times as punishment after village elders found him guilty of raping a neighbor who is deaf and mute, a village chief said Friday. The elders stepped in to review the case because local police had failed to arrest the accused man after a complaint was filed by the victim's husband, village head Badr-ul Hasan told The Associated Press. "Police told us that since the woman is deaf and mute, she is not able to narrate the incident," Hasan said.
WTF? No sign language in India? Guess not...
Village courts generally settle land disputes and other disagreements among residents, not criminal offenses. But many rape cases go unreported in India, especially in villages, since women fear further harassment by police, who often work with corrupt local politicians and landlords.
A village court made up of five elders heard from both sides on Wednesday. It found the man guilty, fined him $110 and ordered he be publicly slapped 51 times, Hasan said.
Has amnesia international issued a statement on this cruel and unusual punishment? |