Kate Brooks

Pakistan: Mukhtar Mai

Mukhtaran Mai Bibi was gang raped under tribal law in June 2002. The government of Pakistan gave Mukhtaran 500,000 rupees as compensation and round the clock guards. Six men were given the death penalty in connection with the rape, but various courts have since repealed the sentence. The hearing at the Supreme Court has been repeatedly delayed.

Locals gather around as Mukhtar Mai presses charges at the police station in Jatoi.
  
Mukhtar Mai gives her official statement at the Jatoi police station.
  
Mukhtar Mai has a flash back of the rape as she stands in her backyard in view of her neighbour's house. Three of their family memebers were convicted for raping her.
     
  
Mukhtar Mai with her family in the village of Meerwala.
  
Mukhtar Mai reads the Koran.
  
Mukhtar Mai used the compensation money she was given to open the first school in her village.
     
  
On 3 March 2005 five of the six men sentenced to death were acquitted on appeal by the Lahore High Court. Faiz Muhammad, head of the tribal council that ordered the "honor rape", is given a hero's welcome upon returning to Meerwala. Within a matter of days he was taken back into custody.