Tag: sexual abuse

  • Survey resurfaces: 40 per cent Pakistani men believe beating wife justified five years ago

    Survey resurfaces: 40 per cent Pakistani men believe beating wife justified five years ago

    According to a resurfaced Demographic and Health survey taken in 2018 by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), around 40 per cent men agreed that a husband is justified in beating his wife.

    However, the reasons for beating were as follows: If she burns his food, goes out without his permission, neglects his children or refuses to have sex with him. Surprisingly, 42 per cent women had also agreed with the statement. Around 34 per cent women, the report reveals, had experienced spousal violence, whether it was physical, sexual or emotional.

    The report states that 28 per cent married women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and 15 per cent women had experienced violence in the past year.

    Up to seven per cent married women admitted that they experienced violence during their pregnancy.

    On experiencing sexual violence, six per cent married women had experienced sexual violence and the most common perpetuator was revealed to be the husband, while 14 per cent women who were divorced, seperated or widowed had experienced sexual violence.

    Moving on to financial stability and empowerment, the survey reported that only 19 per cent married women had been working in the past 12 months, compared to 98 per cent married men.

    Half of the married women who are employed and earned an income, made independent decisions on how to spend their earnings, while 41 per cent made joint decisions with their husband. 76 per cent of working women reported making less money than their husband.

    The survey also found that only three per cent of ever-married women owned a house, alone or jointly, compared to 72 per cent ever-married men.

    The survey sampled from all four provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, including Azad Jammu Kashmir and FATA. A total of 12,364 women between the ages of 15-49 and 3,145 men had participated in the survey.

  • Armie Hammer won’t be charged over sexual assault allegations

    Armie Hammer, who rose to fame with ‘Call Me By Your Name’ and left Hollywood after accusations of sexual assault, will not be charged, Los Angeles District Attorney has confirmed.

    Hammer was accused of rape and sexual abuse by several women, with screenshots of graphic messages from the actor shared by the accusers. The actor has texted women “I am 100% a cannibal” and “I want to eat you.” The LAPD had announced that they were launching an official investigation on the former ‘The Social Network’ actor.

    On Wednesday, a representative from the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that there was insufficient evidence to charge Hammer with a crime, due to the complex relationship between him and the woman:

    “In this case, those prosecutors conducted an extremely thorough review, but determined that at this time, there is insufficient evidence to charge Mr Hammer with a crime,” the statement read. “As prosecutors, we have an ethical responsibility to only charge cases that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt … Due to the complexity of the relationship and inability to prove a non-consensual, forcible sexual encounter, we are unable to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

    The woman, who went by the anonymous name House Of Effie on Instgram, had filed a case in 2021, claiming that Hammer had raped her in 2017, and had repeatedly slammed her head against the wall, bruising her face.

    “During those four hours, I tried to get away, but he wouldn’t let me,” the woman said at the news conference. “I thought that he was going to kill me. He then left with no concern for my well-being.”

    Effie has released a statement on Instagram addressing the announcement, revealing that it “cost me a great deal to have spoken out and filed a report against Armie’s abuse.”

    “I felt a duty to speak out and file a report in order to try and hold Armie accountable for all the harm and trauma he had caused me and to protect other women from experiencing similar abuse. It has cost me a great deal to have spoken out and filed a report against Armie’s abuse. Since I came forward, I have received death threats, rape threats, incessant harassment. Many of Armie’s victims were afraid to come forward. My hope is that one day, rapists won’t get away with it.”

    In 2022, a documentary called ‘The House Of Hammer’ was released on Discovery + which detailed the investigation of emotional and physical abuse the ‘Rebecca’ actor had inflicted over women, as well as an interview with his aunt, Casey, who had written a memoir about her family ‘Surviving My Birthright’, detailing the abuse and greed of the Hammer family.

  • Donald Trump, former US President, is a convicted sex-offender now

    Donald Trump, former US President, is a convicted sex-offender now

    Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty of sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll by a federal Manhattan jury.

    The jury has awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.

    Carroll had alleged that Trump had raped her in the dressing room of a luxury department store in the spring of 1996. She had also claimed defamation after Trump publicly denied assaulting her, called her “not his type” and accused her of fabricating the story to push sales of her book.

    The former President has denied all wrongdoing. He will not face jail time as a result of the civil suite.

    The jury found that Trump had sexually abused her, however, Carroll could not convince the jury that she had been raped.

    Trump did not attend court proceedings as defendants are allowed to skip hearings if the case is a civil suit.

    Immediately after the verdict, Carroll called the verdict a victory for her and for other victims of sexual abuse.

    Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s lead attorney, released a statement that said, “No one is above the law, not even a US President.”

  • TRIGGER WARNING: Lodhran court sentences man to 25 years in prison for raping daughter

    A court in the Lodhran has sentenced a man to 25 years in prison and subjected to Rs 1,00,000 fine for torturing and raping his 15 year old daughter, as reported by Express Tribune.

    The rape case was filed by the survivor’s paternal aunt, Yasan, who revealed that she was suspicious when the father, Irshad, brought the girl to her house unconscious.

    The complainant told the police that after the girl woke up, she confessed to her aunt that her father had drugged and tortured her. When she and other witnesses approached Irshad, he confessed to the crime.

    The aunt urged the police to take strict action against the rapist.

  • Horrifying report reveals incidents of rape, sexual abuse in Attock Jail

    Horrifying report reveals incidents of rape, sexual abuse in Attock Jail

    The Provincial Intelligence Centre (PIC) has in a report accused several staff members at the Attock district jail of raping and harassing female visitors and prisoners.

    On September 30, PIC filed the report to Inspector General of Prisons, Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, after conducting a covert investigation into the operations of the district jail.

    “A girl who visits the jail to see one of the inmates supplies drugs to the prisoners. A pack of charas worth Rs500 outside is sold for Rs3,000 to Rs3,500 inside the prison,” the report has stated.

    “Powerful mafias of drug peddlers have deep roots inside the jail with the support of jail administration and are making unchecked profit by selling contraband. And they also pay due share to the jail management,” the report said, adding that influential visitors are frequently given permission to meet face-to-face in the DSP’s (Deputy Superintendent of Police) room in exchange for a bribe of up to Rs. 10,000. Additionally, after paying bribes, inmates are permitted to order food from outside.

    The report recommended that jail workers who had been found guilty of breaking the rules of the jail manual or of engaging in acts of sexual harassment, corruption, or torture be disciplined.

    The damning report also suggested that female staff members should be the only ones in charge of handling female visitors to the jail in order to protect their privacy and dignity.

    “This is quite disturbing and can lead to a scandal that will reflect poorly on the Punjab administration,” read the report.
    PIC has ordered a high-level investigation into this matter.

  • Wake up State, yeh hum sub ka masla hai

    Data has revealed that 2,211 children were sexually abused in Pakistan in 2022 from January to June. This horrifying number comes to approximately 12 children who are abused each day according to Sahil, an NGO that works against child sexual abuse. At least 1,207 girls and 1,004 boys were reported to be victims of sexual abuse according to the report.

    Earlier this week, a 10-year-old boy was allegedly raped by the Imam of a mosque in Lahore. As per media reports, the child had gone to offer Fajr prayers in the mosque where the accused, Abbas, took him to the basement and allegedly raped him. Then there was a case where a 16-year-old girl, a grade 9 student, was working as a translator for a Chinese national on a monthly pay of Rs15,000 since May 2021. She was raped by a man for months, who threatened her with dire consequences if she resisted.

    Statistics reveal how bad and ugly it is but what is being done? Answer: nothing. These are just the official numbers or cases that have been reported. There is a growing concern that most cases of rape, sexual abuse, and other such forms of violent abuse against children and young girls are not reported due to societal taboos. Despite laws in place that address these issues, not many victims have found justice. And the way our society reacts to such crimes, by blaming the survivors makes it all the more difficult for people to come forward and report these crimes. With each passing day, a child is raped, a minor girl somewhere in Pakistan is forced to get married, and somewhere someone gets abducted. The silence of the state on matters that need the most attention is rather appalling. For how long will people keep suffering? What are our policymakers doing to make the lives of people in Pakistan better? With all the abuse, harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, and rapes being reported, where are we headed as a society? Has humanity died completely? Imagine the pain of the children and the families who have been victims and survivors of these horrific crimes. This needs to stop and the state needs to wake up from its slumber.

    For our part, The Current has been following up on rape cases for almost two years since the Motorway rape incident which happened in October 2020. As of yet, a total of 1584 cases have been recorded from what we found in news outlets. The number is likely way more than this since these are only the ones we found in the news.

    The state also needs to raise more awareness about such crimes. We need to teach our children from a very young age about these sensitive issues. We cannot hide away from these crimes that take place on a regular basis just because our society casts aspersions. If there is justice for the survivors, then more people will find the courage to report these crimes. We cannot let our children down.

  • At least 12 children sexually abused each day, reveals report

    At least 12 children sexually abused each day, reveals report

    Data has revealed that 2,211 children were sexually abused in Pakistan in 2022 from January to June. This horrifying number comes to approximately 12 children who are abused each day, Sahil, an NGO that works against child sexual abuse has stated. Sahil monitors national, regional, and local newspapers at its Head Office and 4 Regional Offices to collect data on Child Sexual Abuse, Abduction, and early forced marriage cases. Cruel Numbers is published annually, comprising these statistics.

    At least 1,207 girls and 1,004 boys were reported to be victims of sexual abuse.

    The figures represent a dramatic contrast to the previous year’s Jan-June data, which showed 1,896 instances, indicating a 17 per cent increase.
    According to the statistics, there are 1,050 incidents where the abusers are acquainted with the victims or the victim’s family, and 409 cases where strangers are involved in the abuse.

    In addition, the data compiled by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) and the Centre for Research, Development and Communication (CRDC) revealed that at least 133 women were kidnapped and as many as 85 were subjected to rape in Pakistan in the month of July alone.

  • Electric current was used on my penis and testes, says Gill

    Electric current was used on my penis and testes, says Gill

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill told journalist Matiullah Jan that electric current was used on his genitals. He was responding to a question on the alleged sexual abuse.

    “Yes, it is true. Electric current was used on my testes and penis. This is the sexual abuse I was talking about. I was tortured as electric current was used on my penis and testes so that I could give a statement against someone,” said Gill.

    Earlier, Gill confirmed that he was sexually assaulted in police custody.

    “Yes, it’s true”, said Gill. His statement came after PTI Chairman Imran Khan claimed that Gill was sexually abused while in police custody.

    Read more: ‘Yes, it’s true’: Shahbaz Gill confirms he was sexually assaulted in police custody

    In a series of tweets Khan said, “All the pictures and videos show clearly Gill was tortured both mentally and physically, including sexual abuse — most too gruesome to relate.”

    Read more: Islamabad court rejects plea to send Gill on physical remand

    It is pertinent to mention here that a district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday, August 24, rejected a request by the Islamabad Police for an extension in the physical remand of Gill.

  • Does the Pakistani man understand that no means no?

    Does the Pakistani man understand that no means no?

    A young girl was subjected to torture in Faisalabad. A final-year student, the girl alleged that her friend’s father became interested in her and even wrote her a formal proposal, which she declined. After she rejected the proposal, the accused pressurised her to change her mind. She received death threats. The complainant was even threatened that she could be raped. In videos that have now gone viral, she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse. Her hair was cut off and she was asked to lick shoes in order to humiliate her. She went through this abuse and torture only because she refused to marry a man who was also her friend’s father. This horrific incident shows how fragile Pakistani male egos are because they will not let a woman exercise her free will and choose to say no.

    This isn’t the first incident of its kind. Back in 2018, a bus hostess was murdered in Faisalabad for rejecting a marriage proposal. We witnessed the same shock and horror that we are seeing today but did it change anything? No. Are women allowed to exercise their free will and choose the men of their choice? No.

    In Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, a total of 77 cases of physical assault were recorded in the month of July alone — 93 women in Punjab were abducted, and 47 cases of sexual assault cases were recorded. As far as domestic violence cases are concerned, Punjab reported 58 cases.

    Women face the same problems across South Asia. In India, Bilkis Bano — an Indian Muslim woman who was gang-raped in the 2002 Gujarat riots — said that her peace has been taken away after the Gujarat government released her 11 rapists. Her rapists were released on August 15, i.e. Independence Day of India. They were convicted in 2008.“How can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma. The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice,” said Bilkis in her statement.

    With all the abuse, harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, and rapes being reported not just in our country, but around the region, where are we headed as a society? Where do we go from here? Where do we stand? Has humanity died? What about morality and protection in the name of rule and law? Will women ever be safe, anywhere? Women of Pakistan and across the world deserve better.

  • Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Imran Khan meets accused sexual abuser Zia Chishti at Bani Gala

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met Sitara-i-Imtiaz (third-highest honour and civilian award in Pakistan) holder and founder of a software company “Afiniti” Zia Chishti at Bani Gala. Chishti was accused of sexually abusing Tatiana Spottiswoode, a former Afiniti employee, and Zia’s friend’s daughter last year.

    Chishti stepped down from his position as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately following the allegations of sexual assault by a 23-year-old against him.

    The news of the meeting between the two came to the surface when the official Twitter handle of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted a picture of the meeting at Khan’s residence.

    Zia Chishti along with former Special Assistant to the prime minister Sayed Zulfi Bukhari were seen meeting Khan.

    However, the party’s Twitter account later deleted the tweet.