Incest

[ghalib]

I am pasting the article since Dawn will eventually remove it from server and reference will be gone…

ISLAMABAD: Incest-a woeful tale of silent abuse

By M. Arshad Sharif

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: As many as 70 cases of incest have been committed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, during the first six months, interviews with social workers in the NGOs revealed.

According to the NGOs this figure includes only those cases who seek psychological or legal counselling. The number of unreported cases of incest is estimated to be much higher. Shabnum Shoaib of Islamabad Women’s Welfare Agency (IWWA), told Dawn that since the beginning of this year, IWWA has been providing psychological counselling services and legal assistance to some 20 victims of incest.

In most cases, the fact is known to the family, but a tacit silence and a denial sets in, to last well into the adult years of the victim. She said that the mental, physical, social and spiritual consequences are extensive, the victim rarely recovers completely. Most incidents are unreported and very few get documented.

Incest is the lowest form of rape, where the perpetrator is an intimate member of the family, often stepfather, uncle, step brother, cousin, blood brother, sometimes even the father. Police officials maintain that no statistics exist on the prevalence of incest in the records. And those available with the NGOs are said to be well off the mark from the true figures. The silence of the society on the issue shows that either incest does not happen or everyone is wilfully blind and deaf.

Advocate Uzma Khalid of High Court providing legal aid to the victims of incest said that the victims have virtually no access to judicial protection and redress. Officials at all levels of the criminal justice system are not willing to prosecute the matter in criminal courts and prefer to settle the issue through compromise in the family.

This again places the victim in a vulnerable position vis- a -vis the abuser. Worse, they are regularly advised and sometimes pressured by the police to reconcile with their abusive relatives. Determined victims sometimes succeed in registering complaints. However, especially females alleging incest, are often not believed and treated with disrespect and harassed by officials at all levels.

They must contend with abusive police, forensic doctors who focus on their virginity status instead of their injuries, untrained prosecutors, skeptical judges, and a discriminatory and deficient legal framework.

When contacted, an Additional District and Sessions Judge of Karachi, Nuzhat Ara Alvi, said that during the last five years only one case of incest was brought to her court. Even in that case, the family was pressurising the victim for a compromise, she said.

Two more NGOs, Sahil and Rozan are also providing counselling services to victims of incest reflecting on the higher number of cases being committed.

Giving country-wide figures collected by Sahil through media reports, the NGO’s Media and Publications Officer, Ms Fauzia, said that in 1997, 21 cases of incest were reported. In 1998, 23 in 1999, 21 and during 2000, 43 cases were reported.

The 113 reported cases is only the tip of the iceberg as most of them go unreported, she said. In the 112 cases victims were females and male in one case.

Rozan’s Ms Ayesha said that analysis of 100 letters received from the abused persons showed that 47 were victims of incest. NGOs observed that even when the children complain of incest to one of the parents, there is resistance in the families to own up to the crime. It is a common problem when victims are females.

Incest is prevalent in the society across the board, irrespective of the social standing of the family. Shabnum of IWWA, shared that recently a ninth class student came with complaints of sexual abuse by her father, who is a senior government official residing in F-8 sector of Islamabad.

Citing problems faced in taking up these cases, she pointed out that a case of incest was lodged in Sadiqabad police station vide FIR number 596 dated December 4, 2000. “When we took up the case, the paternal uncle and step grandfather of the girl threatened the social workers with dire consequences and asked them not to interfere in the matter,” she said.

Highlighting the role of police and helplessness of the victims, she said that the mother of the girl told the NGO staff that police had allegedly taken Rs2.5 million from the abusers and shelved the investigations.

Finally, the paternal uncle pressurised the girl to give a compromise statement and on the basis of it the case was disposed off, she said. A 27-year old victim of incest disclosed to this scribe that she suffered years of sexual abuse from age 13 till 18 from a close family member.

The rising number of cases among children has prompted Unicef to do a survey on child sexual abuse in Pakistan. It is also working with Pakistan’s social welfare department on the issue. Doctors have found mothers accepting incest among their children with a male relative. The patriarchal nature of many Pakistani families makes it hard for women to challenge husbandsor in-laws, the social workers said.

Incest is considered a big taboo in our society along with pedaphile. I know my wife once told me that PTV showed a drama about this but all the hints were extremely subtle.

Thoughts, comments, aloo temataar?!

[ahmadjee]

I really depressing article, I must say .... but I am sure its very close to truth.

sigh

[Azad_Munna]

As human being ,muslims probably have this aberration or sexual perversion or sexual exploitation of minor & family household members.There is everything in Islam for muslim to refrain from it & if even a less observent muslim ,who does nt practice salat & ramadan ,would have better sense,i believe.
But mental sickness,socioeconomic aberrations dysfunctional family ,child abuve domestic violence,divorce ,incompatible nmarriage ,alcoholism,drug deopendency,personality disorder,loose moral;ls ,gambling addiction,...etc can occuir everywhere & also in Pakistan

One socio cultural factor ,i read in particular Irish mother often offer there young daughters to keep there husband from leaving her.This information was through my professional previleges and was a news for me & not meant as derogatory to any group but privileged information.

Incest is any sexual relation between say father & daughter or brother & sister or all prohibited marriaghes according to islam

CONTRARY TO NON MUSLIMS PROPOGANDA COUSIN MARRIAGE IS NOT INCEST BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIRECT BLOOD RELATION AS IN BROTHER SISTER <FATHER DAUGHTER ETC.

[aphrodite]

does dawn always eventually delete old articles from its server - or is this article a special case ?

[_DerVaisH]

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/nook.gif

very hi sad-te-sharamnaak…
thanx 4 sharing…
God bless u all..

maskeen-te-hor-ghumgeen…
DerVaisH

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muhabatein theen kabhi apne dermian kitni…
bicha gaye hai anna hum mein doorian kitni…
abhi to toota hai dil hi teri judai mein…
girein gi hum pe abhi aur bijlian kitni…

[Changez_like]

incest happens in all societies, almost everywhere in the world and should be condemned and culprits should be dealt with harshly.... probably stoned to death in public.

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We oughta be Changez like, don't we?

[Roman]

Dear Darvish,

Up until you wrote it, I was unable to decide how to describe this incident. I thought a few words like horrible, terrible, shocking, etc but 'sad' definitely explains it. I also was looking a way to post in there just to have my name up and pose myself a God-fearing person and at the same time have others to notice me but could not find a better way - yup, calling it 'sad' will definitely serve both.

thanx 4 sharing
god bless you

Ro'ro kay attention seeking'man

[babydoll]

Incest is something I cannot understand. I just cant except this. Are they (men) deprived sexually for resorting to their women in the house?

[Y2Mu]

Originally posted by babydoll:
**Incest is something I cannot understand. I just cant except this. Are they (men) deprived sexually for resorting to their women in the house? **

Hmmm.. number one… sure its a majority that
men are the ones who are responsible for incestual
acts of violence or other debauchery
however keep in mind… that women are also
responsible…
women can also be very horny… so you
can also say that women cannot control their
sexual instincts
or fantasies.
Second… it is accept not except…
that is it.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

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** Mu Hu Hahahahahaha!**:hoonh:
"Quote the Mu,“NeverMu!”

[FYI]

Originally posted by babydoll:
**Incest is something I cannot understand. I just cant except this. Are they (men) deprived sexually for resorting to their women in the house? **

Y2MU

A1 …100% correct

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

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Woh afsaana jise anjaam tak, laana na ho mumkin
Use ek KHoobsoorat moR dekar, chhoRna achha

[Yasmine2]

I don’t think that any person who is horny will become commit incest. Its not so simple. If we think that then it makes us into animals, with no control over our actions.

Incest exploits the close relationship and trust people have in families and takes advantage of children’s vulnerablity— size and age.

I just can’t understand incest and rape occuring in muslim countries because we’re shown what is right and what’s not.

Terribly sad

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif