3 Jun 2013

Rape victim and 'black virgin' condemned to die in Pakistan over rape

When she was gang-raped by four men at the age of 13, her village classed her as a "black virgin" and ordered her killed. In the rural village of Dadu in southern Pakistan, tradition held that Kainat Soomro's own family should murder her, as her sexual assault had made her a token of disgrace.

Four years later, Kainat is alive and a documentary about her story is premiering on television in the US. But that doesn't mean she or her family is safe. As the film Outlawed in Pakistan shows, Kainat Soomro is still "destined to be killed" because she took the step - extraordinary in Pakistan - of fighting for justice.

outlawed in pakistan

The film is a testament to her family’s strength and endurance in a life which has only become more difficult the longer they have stood up against tradition. The Soomros have faced isolation, fear and intimidation from the four men Kainat accused of raping her, and from the members of the small village who were afraid of challenging moral laws which have been in existence for centuries. By virtue of making the rape accusation, Kainat is an outlaw in her own country.

The AustralianFacebook