The curious case of Farah Hatim

by Xavier P. William

(July 26, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Farah Hatim 24, a resident of Rahim Yar Khan in the South Punjab was abducted on 8th May 2011 by Zeehan Ilyas and his brothers Imran and Gulfam was forced to convert and marry Zeeshan Ilyas. The Human rights organizations and the Catholic Church had condemned the act and demanded action against the violation of human rights.

Justice and Peace Commission was leading the case, they took the case to the session courtunder the FIR, Case No. 150/11 US/ 365-B CR.PC. The police had been threatening the family since then. The Session Judge Khawaja Mir had transfered the case to the High Court for hearing due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The appeal at the high court was presented by the Justice and Peace Commission and APMA ( All Pakistan Minorities Alliance). Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman from the High Court Bahawalpur bench had instructed the district police Rahim Yar Khan and the families to appear before the court on 20th July 2011.

The Judge questioned Farah Hatim if she was kidnapped or went with Zeehan Ilyas on her own will, after a few moments of silence, she said, " I went with my own will". After a few questions, the judge announced that Farah will be living with her new family. Farah Hatim broke into tears as the court announced the decision.

Farah Hatim was allowed a few moments to meet her family. Hatim`s brother said, " i am shocked at wat Farah said in the court, she is under threat, now all hopes are gone for her return. Why us? Why did we have to face this? Only because we are Christians? "

According to the Justice and Peace Commission, " Farah became a victim of the racket that is involved in prostitution, Zeeshan IIyas had tried to force her into prostitution while she was a student at the Sheikh Zaid Medical College in Rahim Yar Khan, but she refused. Then Zeehan IIyas took the revenge. The current decision by Farah is possibly because she is pregnant and fears that her family will be killed if she tries to go back, even if she had taken any brave stance of returning, she wouldnt have been accepted by the society as she was kidnapped and rapped. The fear of rejection is also a possible reason."

According to the Justice and Peace Commission " Thousands of girls from the minorities are kidnapped and forced into forced marriages. We are fighting against the cancer of kidnapping and forced marriages."

The Hatim family in despair appeals to the high authorities to take actions or legislate laws against forced marriages that convert the minorities. "We dont want this to happen to any other girl again, we have lost our sister, we know it feels, the pain is unexplainable, we are targeted because we are minorities, we demand the government not to abandon the minorities." said Farah`s elder brother with tears in his eyes outside the court.