life sentence for raping a Christian girl

The victim was only eight years old when she was beaten and raped by a neighbor. Human rights activists: “Let this court decision become a strong message against all child abuse in Pakistan.”

Sahiwal () – In a historic ruling, a Sahiwal court sentenced Muhammad Boota to life imprisonment, convicted of kidnapping and brutally sexually assaulting Liza, a Christian girl who was only eight years old at the time of the incident. The violence, which took place on September 2, 2021, shocked the community and raised concerns for the safety and protection of children in Pakistan.

The victim had been brutally beaten and raped by a Muslim man who lived in her neighborhood. She was immediately transferred to Sahiwal DHQ Hospital, where medical reports confirmed the heinous nature of the assault and left no doubt as to Muhammad Boota’s guilt.

After being reported under section 376 (rape offence) of the Pakistani Penal Code, the police arrested the man in another city to which he had tried to flee. And now, faced with irrefutable evidence, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Joseph Jansen, a human rights activist who has been supporting the family involved in this case for three years, praised the court’s decision and commented on the verdict in this particularly appalling case, in a context unfortunately marked by the recurring phenomenon of the kidnapping of girls that belong to minorities to force them to marry. “This decision finally sends a strong message against all child abuse in Pakistan,” Jansen said.

Ashiknaz Khokhar, representative of Voice for Justice, expressed his deep concern for the future of the girl, traumatized by the incident and currently undergoing treatment with psychologists and doctors to help her in the recovery process. Women’s rights activist Nadia Stephen stressed the urgent need to address human rights violations in Pakistan, especially cases of child rape, forced religious conversions and blasphemy. Stephen urged activists to join their voices to raise awareness and condemn these acts in order to promote a healthy society and human rights in Pakistan.

Photo: Flickr / lukexmarti