Indian sisters rape punishment: Village elders face arrest for vile 'sentence' after international outrage

Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her 15-year-old sister have fled their home after an unelected all-male village council made the order

Amnesty International USA

Campaign: Amnesty International's petition has gathered worldwide momentum

The Indian village elders who sparked international fury when they ordered that two sisters to be raped are facing arrest for their vile 'sentence'.

The sickening punishment was handed down because their brother ran off with a married woman.
Now it has been reported that Indian police are looking into the 'Khap' court - which has handed down illegal sentences before.
More than 100,000 Brits have now signed a petition to save the sisters.
Meenakshi Kumari, 23, and her 15-year-old sister have fled their home after an unelected all-male village council made the order.
The council also demanded the sisters were paraded naked with blackened faces to humiliate them for their brother's actions.

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Map: Baghpat village, where the sisters live and the shocking ruling was made

Amnesty International condemned the "disgusting" ruling as celebrities rallied behind the petition.

Rachel Alcock, Amnesty UK's Urgent Action Coordinator, said: "Rape is a revolting crime, not a punishment. It’s no wonder this disgusting 'sentence' has provoked global outrage."
"These Khap courts routinely order vile sexually violent punishments against women.
"India’s Supreme Court has rightly declared such orders illegal.
"The government of Uttar Pradesh has an urgent duty to keep this family safe.
"There must also be a proper, independent investigation into these barbaric and illegal orders which apparently continue to be issued by the khap panchayat courts."

www.amnesty.co.uk

Petition: Amnesty said rape is a 'revolting crime', not a punishment

Sumit Kumar, another brother of Meenakshi, told Amnesty that members of the Jat caste were powerful members of the village council, saying: "The Jat decision is final."
His family fears for their lives if they return. Meenakshi has filed a petition with India's Supreme Court asking for protection.
They are also worried about the safety of the Jat woman, who is believed to be pregnant with Ravi's child.
Sign the Amnesty International petition urging the Principal Secretary of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to take action.