Peshawar High Court orders protection for Afghan couple
Afghan couple Hewad (C), 22, and Mariyam Marjman (3rd L), who fled Kabul last month to marry for love in Pakistan, leave after a court hearing in Peshawar on July 23, 2012. – AFP
PESHAWAR: A court on Monday ordered police to protect an Afghan couple who eloped and fear being murdered by the bride’s relatives.
Hewad, 22, and Mariyam Marjman fled Kabul last month to marry for love in the leafy town of Abbottabad in northwest Pakistan.
Marjman, also 22, told AFP her parents had wanted her to wed the ageing husband of her sister, who had recently died, instead. She says that if taken back to Afghanistan she would probably be murdered for marrying a man of her own choice.
The high court in Peshawar took up the case after being moved by reports of the couple’s plight.
“The couple should be provided proper accommodation in Peshawar and foolproof security because of threats to their lives,” said judge Dost Muhammad Khan.
The pair, whom Pakistani authorities had previously housed separately, were accompanied in court by an armed police escort, an AFP reporter said.
The judges called another hearing next week to check their orders had been implemented.
The young couple escaped their conservative families’ clutches with the help of a Pakistani friend — taking the dead sister’s two-year-old daughter with them — but say relatives of the bride have since travelled to Pakistan in a bid to force them back.
Hewad, who uses only one name, told AFP: “I have serious threats to my life from Mariyam’s relatives, from her parents and her brothers.
“I am sure they can harm me here and if we are sent back to Afghanistan, they will simply shoot us.”
Despite progress in recent years and improved legal protection, women suffer chronic rights abuses in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Great job …. bravo judge
thank you
I am all for traditions and old customs , but certain things are just insane as witnessed in this instance. If their tribal code cannot respect a persons right to marry by choice than it has no place in a civilized society . its illegal immoral and against every religion that I can think of. we should do everything to help this couple who is being persecuted for no reason whatsoever. high court has done a good job of taking it over, lets hope the police can do its part to protect them .best wishes.
The couple should be allowed to get married and return to Afghanistan and settle in a remote town.
Love or not, if they want to be married and are of legal age they should be allowed, its their right. Well done Peshawar and thank you for the decision.
A win for humanity and a loss for the regressive scoeity in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Justice has prevailed. Long live independent judiary of Pakistan and the rule of law. My well wishes and blessing to the couple for a new life in Pakistan. Lets hope life improves in Afghanistan and the couple are able to return to their motherland one day!
Thank God! We are proud of Pakistan for protecting the couple. We pray for your safety and happiness
Hooray.