Court sentences man to life imprisonment for raping wife

In a landmark ruling, a court in Pakistan’s conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for raping and kidnapping his underage wife.

The victim’s lawyer, Mian Safeer, announced the verdict on Monday, noting that it is the first decision of its kind in the province.

The court, which specializes in cases of gender-based violence, declared the decision a significant advancement for women’s rights in Pakistan.

The victim, who was living with her parents at the time, had only undergone a spiritual marriage ceremony and not a civil one. The man abducted the young girl, detained her in his home for several days, and raped her during this period.

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The court sentenced the man to life imprisonment for both the abduction and rape and imposed an additional fine. This decision marks a critical step in addressing violence against women in a country frequently characterized by patriarchal norms and societal traditions.

Violence against women remains a pervasive issue in Pakistan, a nation with a population exceeding 240 million. Although marital rape was criminalized in 2021, underage marriages, often arranged by guardians and rooted in long-standing cultural practices, remain common.

The first conviction for marital rape in Pakistan occurred in January, when a court sentenced a man to three years in prison, highlighting the ongoing challenges and gradual progress in the fight for women’s rights and protection in the country.