Brishna, a 10-year old girl from Kunduz province in Afghanistan, was raped by a local mullah in May 2014. While she was recovering in the hospital, her family and community members threatened to kill her and “dump her in the river.”
Months ago, police removed Brishna from the Women for Afghan Women’s shelter and returned her to her family, where she is at grave risk of an “honor killing.” The director of Women for Afghan Women, Dr. Hassina Sarwari, has also been threatened by the girl’s family and powerful members of her community for protecting Brishna. She too fears for her life.
Discrimination against women is endemic in Afghanistan, and authorities routinely fail to protect survivors and human rights defenders or to ensure judicial due process. Amnesty International calling for full protection for Brishna and Dr. Sarwari, effective investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators, and criminalization of “honor” killings.
