JALALABAD (SW): A man in Nangarhar province has forcefully married his minor sister-in-law hours after blaming his wife for not being ‘virgin’ on the first night of their marriage.
According to Saima [not actual name], her husband named Khodai Rahm who is bodyguard of a local commander, charged her for not being virgin on the first night of their marriage, and went after her 10 year old sister. The incident reportedly took place in the Shewa district of the province six months ago.
Saima told Salam Watandar that forensic reports indicate that she was virgin however, the brawl started when Khodai Rahm asserted that she was not. On the same night, Saima said, he and his family members abducted the 10 year old girl and divorced her.
Local authorities have identified 13 suspects in the case however, only 2 have been apprehended. Atta-u-llah Khogyani, spokesperson for the provincial governor said that efforts are underway to arrest the rest.
Ahmad Wali Hashemi, chief of the provincial appeal court, told Salam Watandar that the father of the groom and one other man named Junbish are arrested; the rest of the suspects shall soon be arrested.
Sabrina Hamidi, a local human rights activist, said in this regard that the case was registered by grandfather of the victims. She expressed concerns for the safety of the girls as police vehicle was used to abduct the 10 year old girl.
