‘No Justice’: Pakistani Acid Victim Commits Suicide After Years of Pain & Suffering
- Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:28am by
Billy Hallowell
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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani acid attack victim Fakhra Younus had endured more than three dozen surgeries over more than a decade to repair her severely damaged face and body when she finally decided life was no longer worth living.
The 33-year-old former dancing girl — who was allegedly attacked by her then-husband, an ex-parliamentarian and son of a political powerhouse — jumped from the sixth floor of a building in Rome, where she had been living and receiving treatment.
Family members of Pakistani acid attack victim Fakhra Younnus, mourn her death at Karachi airport in Pakistan on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Fakhra who committed suicide by jumping from the sixth floor of her flat in Rome, was a victim of an acid attack allegedly carried out 12 years ago by her husband, the son of a feudal politician. (AP Photo)
Her March 17 suicide and the return of her body to Pakistan on Sunday reignited furor over the case, which received significant international attention at the time of the attack. Her death came less than a month after a Pakistani filmmaker won the country’s first Oscar for a documentary about acid attack victims.
Younus’ story not only drives home the woeful plight of many women in conservative Muslim Pakistan, it is also a reminder of how the country’s rich and powerful operate with impunity. Younus’ ex-husband, Bilal Khar, was eventually acquitted, but many believe he used his connections to escape the law’s grip — a common occurrence in Pakistan.
More than 8,500 acid attacks, forced marriages and other forms of violence against women were reported in Pakistan in 2011, according to The Aurat Foundation, a women’s rights organization. Because the group relied mostly on media reports, the figure is likely an undercount.
Fakhra Younus (Image Credit: TheNewsTribe.com)
“The saddest part is that she realized that the system in Pakistan was never going to provide her with relief or remedy,” Nayyar Shabana Kiyani, an activist at The Aurat Foundation, said of Younus. “She was totally disappointed that there was no justice available to her.”
Younus was a teenage dancing girl working in the red light district of the southern city of Karachi when she met her future husband, the son of Ghulam Mustafa Khar, a former governor of Pakistan’s largest province, Punjab. The unusual pairing was the younger Khar’s third marriage. He was in his mid-30s at the time.
The couple was married for three years, but Younus eventually left him because he allegedly physically and verbally abused her. She claimed that he came to her mother’s house while she was sleeping in May 2000 and poured acid all over her in the presence of her 5-year-old son from a different man.
Tehmina Durrani, Ghulam Mustafa Khar’s ex-wife and his son’s stepmother, became an advocate for Younus after the attack, drawing international attention to the case. She said that Younus’ injuries were the worst she had ever seen on an acid attack victim.
“So many times we thought she would die in the night because her nose was melted and she couldn’t breathe,” said Durrani, who wrote a book about her own allegedly abusive relationship with the elder Khar. “We used to put a straw in the little bit of her mouth that was left because the rest was all melted together.”
She said Younus, whose life had always been hard, became a liability to her family, for whom she was once a source of income.
“Her life was a parched stretch of hard rock on which nothing bloomed,” Durrani wrote in a column in The News after Younus’ suicide.
Younus’ ex-husband grew up in starkly different circumstances, amid the wealth and power of the country’s feudal elite, and counts Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar as a cousin.
Younus' ex-husband Bilal Khar
Bilal Khar once again denied carrying out the acid attack in a TV interview following her suicide, suggesting a different man with the same name committed the crime. He claimed Younus killed herself because she didn’t have enough money, not because of her horrific injuries, and criticized the media for hounding him about the issue.
“You people should be a little considerate,” said Khar. “I have three daughters and when they go to school people tease them.”
Younus was energized when the Pakistani government enacted a new set of laws last year that explicitly criminalized acid attacks and mandated that convicted attackers would serve a minimum sentence of 14 years, said Durrani. She hoped to return someday to get justice once her health stabilized.
“She said, ‘When I come back, I will reopen the case, and I’ll fight myself,’ and she was a fighter,” Durrani said.
Durrani had to battle with both Younus’ ex-husband and the government to send her to Italy, where the Italian government paid for her treatment and provided her money to live on and send her child to school. Pakistani officials argued that sending Younus to Italy would give the country a bad name, Durrani said.
Younus was happy when Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an Oscar for her documentary about acid attack victims in February, but was worried about being forgotten since she wasn’t profiled in the film, said Durrani.
Durrani said Younus’ case should be a reminder that the Pakistani government needs to do much more to prevent acid attacks and other forms of violence against women, and also help the victims.
“I think this whole country should be extremely embarrassed that a foreign country took responsibility for a Pakistani citizen for 13 years because we could give her nothing, not justice, not security,” said Durrani.
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Comments (71)
Walkabout
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:18amBilal Khar
Per islam Biblal’s victim had the right to throw acid on him. They should have done it & televised it. That would put an end to that crap if men were held responsible.
Report Post »cher128
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:08amIf anyone thinks that America is immune or in any way safe from the hell that is Pakistan, they are seriously mistaken. Because of activist judges and bleeding heart liberals, are country has already on a collision course with tyranny. It will not take a whole lot more before we are reading about acid cases in our own country.
Report Post »America needs to return to her biblical roots immediately.
Free2speakRN
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:31amSharia Law in this USA should be ZERO tolerance. NONE. Immediate dismissal of any Judge who is a ‘sympathiser’ to their Sharia ‘Honor’. If the judge is afraid, get him out of that position. No issue. Done. Out.
Report Post »gr8t2bfree
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:27amThese two women are not the same person. One has blue eyes , the other brown. The face shapes and skull dimensions are not the same. This is a fake photo!
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:34amShe was a dancer. Have you ever heard of tinted contacts?
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:26amP.S. Dear Blaze…something weird with your systems. I updated my profile pic with Redtick CoonHound puppies (just got a Redtick Coonhound named Sherman! Animal Rescue. He’s way cool!) well, It shows as my pic on my profile, but not on my posts. Thanx!
Report Post »erxcwrestler
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:46pmEither they fixed it, or it‘s just you who can’t see the picture.
Report Post »mrqstixx
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:17am“ A different man with the same name ” ! That’s your story? Unbelievable.
Report Post »YourVoiceMatters
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 1:03pmthat “other guy” just went off with acid on the gal he had issues with
Report Post »coincidental they had the same name …
yeah perfectly believable
as you know it is perfectly credible for them also to lie in their religion…
evil
Teabunny
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:13amMy prayer is that she finally finds peace…and justice. How horrible. How unfair. May her blood remain on the hands of the guilty (and there are many, in this case) for all time. He destroyed more than her appearance, he broke her heart, in a way that can never be mended. She was denied justice. There is a god. And even the bible states that those without law, will be judged without the law, on the merits of their heart. those under law will be judged by law, and those who rely on grace, receive mercy. She bore up under great opposition, persecuted unjustly. Father in heaven, judge her fairly. she was raised to believe in you, in the fashion of her ancestors. She worshiped you as she was taught to, under man-made denominations. but see through the veil of flesh, and judge her heart. she suffered enough, with malice toward none. Grant her rest, and peace, and justice; and welcome her into your kingdom, in your great love and mercy…for we all fall short of your glory. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.
Report Post »Sail Away
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:16pm@TEABUNNY, not only well said…..but showing the true compassion and heart of God. That prayer was beautiful.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:12amShe is safe and loved beyond measure now. When justice on earth doesn’t happen, I am comforted by knowing it will happen. God bless her daughter and those who fought for her.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:48amWhat does Islam look like? . . . . . . THIS is what Islam looks like.
What a sad and tragic story . . . . all for a lie. This, once beautiful, woman, . . . unknown number of martyrs, . . . unknown number of innocent victims. . . . . all because people believed a man who CLAIMED a divine audience with an angel. Since that time, the world has become a more dangerous and violent place to live.
What a pathetic religion. . . . . . . what a true look at TOO many of the earth’s human inhabitants. :-(
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:57amTrue, and it won‘t stop till the Muslim’s recognize how evil it is and revamp their Koran and their teachings…and there is little to no chance of that…
Power over people is something that human nature loves to maintain.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:21amThe crux of the matter is, . . . . . those who . . . “know they are right”. . . are nearly impossible to change. What it will take is for a young Arab generation being educated in reality and leaving a ficticious story with the rest of the world myths that have come and gone. As for the world we live in now? We have a fight coming. I may argue against christianity on this website, . . . but if it came to radical jihadists, I would stand side by side with the christians of this country and aim my barrel at those enemies both foreign and domestic!
Report Post »netmail
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:12amAnyone who does this to another human being deserves exactly the same fate but with NO attempts to restore or comfort them. They should be tormented with the unspeakable pain that they themselves inflicted on an innocent other. Personally, I want NO mercy for them. None whatsoever.
Report Post »JimL
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 12:19pmForgiveness is for the Victim.
Report Post »DeavonReye
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 3:23pmWhat do you mean “forgiveness is for the victim”?
Report Post »Frodo RinosBane
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:46amForget Trayvor, someone needs to waste THIS guy
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:33am…to think that we are giving these people our money – that we don’t have!
Yesterday, I saw a Muslim woman in a full-blown black burqa (head to toe) and her husband looked like he just left an AlQaeda training camp. It was a hot day, and I felt so sorry for her. I wanted to tell her husband that what he was doing to her was ABUSE! He should wear that hot outfit and see how he liked it! POS.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:38amwe give theses animals billions of dollar we have to pay back to creditors and we will never see a dime of it ……………why………these people live like its the 7th century and won’t change but will kill us to make us like them
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:54amOk so the long and short of my epistle is:
They mounted this Holy War just after the end of the Ottoman Empire, 1922…not that long ago, eh.
They knew they could do exactly what Hitler did but in a different way. Procreate, teach and populate other nations with like minded people. Impose Sharia Law.
It doesn’t take a nuclear scientist to figure it out. It is their Holy War…and we ignore the elephant in the room…and they know it.
Report Post »Onowicit
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 10:38pm@Tigress1
you are right it is cruel.
Report Post »oldwmn
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:30amguess what folks the RELIGION of PEACE eye roll has lots of them sneaking into our country across the mexican border into AZ they are finding Korans there in the desert where they cross over..so you are not safe,
and they are trying to get their laws into our system, and they are teaching hatred and violence against our own people in their schools on our soil..
we had a husband run down his daughter and mother in law in our parking lot in AZ in one of those honor killings we had parents beat their daughter who was raped by a group of Nigerians here in Phoenix then blame the daughter and not the rapist and the little girl was under 13 years old
these pigs are everywhere but everyone is so darn PC they are getting the upper hand
.the camel not only has its nose in the tent its sitting in the middle of room and no one wants to offend the attackers..
my pen pal in Belgium says her country is overrun with Muslims and they verbally harass the Belgium women for not covering their heads with scarfs,
they slaughter their meat in shops no one will eat it , they are forcing their laws there..and like USA Belgium does not want to offend anyone..
these people are barbarians and will always be savages Just because they wear western clothing does not mean they are civilized..
Report Post »piper60
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:18amThis guy pours acid on his wife—————–and then has the ****** to claim that his 3 girls are being teased at school———–and complains about it. I think pouring acid on your WIFE and causing her to commit suicide years later is so much worse than a little teasing.
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:00amnational organizational of gals(NAG’s) sure remain quiet on these kinda issues..nag’s only attack Conservative women….
Report Post »randy
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:48amI bet our Muslim in the white house doesn’t beat Moochelle with a stick, or drag her around by her hair.
Report Post »She’d kick his skinny little A$$ all the way back to Kenya if he tried.
Hova
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:48amReally? What proof do you have of your claims? Or do you just “really really feel” that Obama is from Kenya?
Report Post »Beachbaby
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:45amNo wonder Democrat/lib females love Pakistan so much. As long as women are killed and maimed, they are totally happy. Keeping women as dogs and victims is the law of the world.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:28amMy long comment either got lost or was censored, eh? It was an epistle about Sharia law.
Report Post »Hova
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:52amOr you’re lying to get attention.
Report Post »tbtall
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:25amPerson of the same name committed the crime? Wow, they were doing some real hard-hitting (no pun intended) reporting. These pictures are incredibly shocking and the violence against women is a wart that is not even close to being scrutinized. My heart is very heavy thinking about the endless parade of hypocrisy and sin.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:24amHorrific attacks like this are all too common in the Muslim world. There was no earthly justice for this woman and will be none for her attacker.
Thank God that Bilal Khar will one day face judgement.
This is another reason I get disgusted with women like Sandra Fluke demanding her rights to free birth control and saying there is a war on women in America. People like Fuke are a disgrace when a TRUE war on women is staged dailey wherever Islam is dominant.
Report Post »wboehmer
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:13amWhen I request evidence of muslims doing good in the world, all I receive is . . .
(crickets)
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:02amKiller bees flying up his rear end don’t seem enough justice. What a horrible excuse for a human.
My heart breaks for that woman–no easy mourning for muslims for me…except in cases like this. May she finally find peace.
Please don’t call him an animal…animals behave better than this inhuman freak.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:12amAnd what is the root cause of his actions? His religion.
Report Post »Hova
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 11:53amOr religion in general. The Bible says you should kill a woman if she doesn’t scream while being raped.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:53am.
Report Post »Tell me again why we need these people?……………..
drago
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:04amLiving targets Spank?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:35am@Spank – I have to agree; and this is what Obama wants to allow here in America if he gets even half of a chance.
Report Post »Nemo13
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:52amBilal Khar needs some acid himself. Eye for an eye.
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:52amis this according to islam? the religion of peace? animals. and obama asked the turkish imam about how to raise his daughters. according to islam it’s ok to beat your wife so why not burn them as well. islam the devils religion.
Report Post »ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:34amBoy I can’t wait till these values are the mainstream in America. Hopefully there is a “special” room in H*LL for animals like him.
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