Horrific Fate Of Girl, Lashed 70 Times After Alleged Rape By Cousin

February 3, 2011

Teenager whipped to death in Bangladesh for having a relationship with a married man was allegedly raped by her cousin, it has emerged.

Four Islamic clerics were arrested this week for ordering Mosammet Hena, 14, to receive 100 lashes in a fatwa or religious edict at a village in the south-western Shariatpur district.

It has now been reported that the teenage girl was raped by her married cousin and then accused of having an affair with him.

The girl collapsed after she was lashed in public with a bamboo cane around 70 times on Monday, police chief Shahidur Rahman said.

She was taken to hospital, but died hours later.

Police chief Shahidur Rahman said the 40-year-old man with whom the girl was allegedly involved was also sentenced to 100 lashes, but he fled to escape the punishment.

'We are hunting for the man,' he said.

The girl was reportedly beaten by the man’s family before the lashing sentence was passed.

‘What sort of justice is this?’ the girl's father asked the BBC.

‘My daughter has been beaten to death in the name of justice. If it had been a proper court then my daughter would not have died.’

More...Stoned to death with her lover: Horrific video of execution of girl, 19, killed by Afghan Taliban for running away from arranged marriage

Fatwas are illegal in Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation governed by secular law

But Islamic clerics often preside over courts that use Sharia law and issue fatwas to deal with issues including extra-marital relationships.

Such incidents usually occur in remote villages where police are unable to gain quick access.

Distress: Villagers gathered outside the teenager's home after news of her execution

Sharia law punishment was outlawed by the Bangladeshi High court last but this latest incident is not the first since the prohibition.

A 40-year-old woman died in December having been caned over an alleged affair with her stepson.

Meanwhile horrifying footage emerged last week of a couple being stoned to death for alleged adultery in northern Afghanistan.

The stoning was the first to take place in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power and occurred in a northern village after two mullahs passed sentence under Sharia law.

Regional police have said those behind the stoning will be charged after a woman named Siddqa and a married man named Khyyam were executed.