Bail for the kidnapper of the Catholic girl Arzoo Raja

Karachi: A court of first instance in Karachi granted bail to the kidnapper of the Christian minor Arzoo Raja, setting the bail at 500,000 Pakistani rupees (about 2700 euros) and a similar bail for his accomplices such as the Imam who celebrated the wedding child, and the kidnapper’s assistants. This is what Agenzia Fides learns from Mohammad Jibran Nasir, the lawyer of Arzoo Raja’s family. Commenting bitterly on the decision, the lawyer explains: “We will appeal. The judge’s decision came on December 17, after the lawyers of the 44-year-old kidnapper of the Christian minor Ali Azhar applied for bail.”

News of the granting of bail to the main defendant Ali Azhar and to the co-defendants saddens and wounds the religious minorities of Pakistan. Dominic D’Souza, a Christian activist who follows the case of Arzoo, warns against the effects of the provision: “There is no justice for minorities in Pakistan. Arzoo is not safe now, they will certainly visit her in the family home. intimidate her. Arzoo and his family need protection. “

Muslim activist Osama Mehtab appreciates the efforts of lawyer Mohammad Jibran Nasir to do justice to Arzoo Raja’s family, notes: “Continue to fight for justice: people like you work to save our dignity and make us feel less ashamed and embarrassed. for the injustices that happen to religious minorities “.

The 13-year-old Catholic girl Arzoo Raja was kidnapped by the 44-year-old Ali Azhar, who forcibly converted her to Islam and forced her to marry him.The case that was heard in the High Court of Sindh which, after having ordered the medical examinations to obtain the age of Arzoo Raja, declared the marriage invalid, considering it a case of child marriage. Arzoo Raja was sent to a government-run family home, while the High Court sentenced the defendants to trial before a first-degree court in Karachi.

The trial, which began in court on December 9, 2020, sees Arzoo’s kidnapper Ali Azhar as the main accused under Article 376 of the Pakistani Penal Code, for raping an underage girl and violating the Sindh Child Marriage. Co-defendants are the collaborators and witnesses of the marriage who allowed the criminal plan to go through.

Agenzia Fides

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