(12 Mar 2005)
Islamabad
March 12, 2005
1. Various exteriors of Federal Shariat Court
Lahore
March 12 2005
2. Wide of gang rape victim Mukhtar Mai and friend walking down stairs
3. SOUNDBITE: (Seraiki) Mukhtar Mai:
"I'm slightly relieved by the (Shariat Court's) decision. The last eight days have been hell for me."
4. Cutaways hands
5. SOUNDBITE: (Seraiki) Mukhtar Mai:
"They (the defendants) will try their best (at the Shariat Court hearings) and we will try our level best too. But, with the will of God, we trust the court will make a fair decision."
Islamabad
March 12, 2005
6. Walk-in shot Bokhari
7. Various of Shahnaz Bokhari, a psychologist and chief coordinator of a non-governmental organisation, the Progressive Women's Association in Islamabad
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shahnaz Bokhari, chief coordinator of a non-governmental organisation, the Progressive Women's Association in Islamabad
"A woman being raped in front of 150 people and then the court saying that they do not have enough witnesses, it was amazing and it was really shameful. I had received hundreds of emails from the international community of friends and people who are Pakistanis living abroad saying it was shameful for the country outside, I'm very happy that the Shariat Court has taken up this notice and we are really looking forward for a real change."
Multan
FILE - March 5, 2005
9. Attack Victim Muktar Mai walking, followed by photographers
10. Photographers
11. Mai talking to media
STORYLINE:
Pakistan's highest Islamic court on Saturday reinstated the convictions of five men sentenced to death for gang raping a woman on orders from a village council, reversing a lower tribunal judge who ordered the men freed.
The decision by the Federal Shariat Court in Islamabad was yet another twist in the case of Mukhtar Mai, a 33-year-old teacher, who was raped in June 2002 by four men allegedly on the orders of a village council that wanted to punish her family.
The assault was allegedly ordered after Mai's brother was accused of having sex with a woman from a more prominent family, though Mai's family says the allegations were fabricated to cover up a sexual assault against the boy by several men.
Mai, speaking to APTN in the eastern city of Lahore, said she was relieved by the Shariat Court's decision.
"The last eight days have been hell for me," she said.
Six men, including village elder Faiz Mastoi, were sentenced to death in August 2002, but the sentences of five of the men were overturned March 3 with the court finding there was a lack of evidence to convict.
The sixth man had his death sentence reduced to life imprisonment.
Human rights groups denounced the ruling, and thousands of Pakistani women rallied in Multan earlier this week demanding justice and protection for Mai, who said she fears the men would seek revenge if released.
"A woman being raped in front of 150 people and then the court saying that they do not have enough witnesses, it was amazing and it was really a thing of shame," said Shahnaz Bokhari, a campaigner for women's rights in Islamabad. "I had received hundreds of emails from my international community of friends and people who are Pakistanis living abroad saying it was a shame for the country outside."
The Canadian High Commissioner on Tuesday visited Mai in Meerwala, a village about 565 kilometres (350 miles) southwest of the capital, Islamabad, to pledge money for a school she runs.
Mai and the government have said they will appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.
All six men remain in prison.
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