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ROME: Italy’s foreign minister proudly announced the return to the country on Thursday of a Pakistani woman who it claimed had been taken by her family to Pakistan to have an abortion against her will after she got pregnant by her Italian boyfriend.
The case of young Farah attracted a lot of interest in Italy following the recent strangulation in Pakistan of Sana Cheema, an Italian of Pakistani origin who police suspect was killed by her family because she refused an arranged marriage.
Farah, 19, didn’t have Italian citizenship, only a residency permit. Nevertheless, the foreign ministry activated Italy’s embassy in Islamabad after Verona authorities heard from Farah’s friends that she had been tricked into going home and was forced to have an abortion.
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano tweeted on Thursday that Farah was safely back in Italy, and he thanked Pakistani authorities who had removed Farah from her family’s home in a Lahore area and brought her to the Italian embassy in Islamabad.
Italian politicians join hands to express solidarity with Farah
Alfano had previously said that Italy acted in Farah’s defence as a matter of respecting her human rights and “fundamental rights based on the equality of men and women.”
According to Italian news reports, Farah managed to sneak text and audio messages to her friends in Italy, recounting that her parents had tricked her into returning to Pakistan for her brother’s wedding and then forced her to abort her child. She wrote of being afraid for her life.
Once in the embassy, Italy arranged for Farah’s Pakistani passport to be renewed as her family had destroyed the one she travelled with and issued her a visa to return to Italy.
Farah’s case prompted an outpouring of solidarity from Italian politicians from across the political spectrum eager to prevent a repetition of the Cheema case.
Verona’s social services office, which had received complaints from Farah previously about her abusive father, guaranteed her needs would be met and safety ensured.
Left-leaning lawmaker Laura Boldrini, the former house speaker, praised Farah for raising her voice and “making us understand that when a woman rebels against those who want to oppress her, she will never be left alone”. Right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni, who has demanded a harsher crackdown on illegal immigrants, went so far as to call for Italy to grant Farah citizenship.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2018
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Comments (56) Closed
May 25, 2018 07:46am
Her family should no longer be allowed to return to Italy
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May 25, 2018 07:49am
Good life also wants religious and family values to be sacrificed.
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May 25, 2018 07:52am
good for farah
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May 25, 2018 07:55am
Farah and and other immigrants will find out sooner or later that life in the west is not as wonderful as it is made out to be. You gain some; you lose some. No net gain really.
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May 25, 2018 07:56am
good
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May 25, 2018 09:06am
If you take your daughters and sons to a foreign land, then expect them to adopt the foreign culture and lifestyle!!
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May 25, 2018 09:09am
We have turned into a narrow-minded ideology.
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May 25, 2018 09:33am
Why is our morality always more important than a human life?
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May 25, 2018 09:35am
Culture change and different trends will continue....
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May 25, 2018 09:44am
@Khan yupp if you take decision to move then this will hapeen
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May 25, 2018 10:06am
Every one want to settle in west but settling west has some repercussions and these repercussion do not sit well with eastern conservative minds so please think hard before planning to settle in west, if you have to then move with open mind, if you can digest, otherwise you might end up hurting yourself and your loves one.
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May 25, 2018 11:45am
Viva! Bravo! Thank you very much Italy. Grazie mille Italia. Salams
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May 25, 2018 12:17pm
What a shame ! When another country cares more about your citizens !
How about the local government taking notice of this and taking action against the family for forcing an abortion ? Are there no laws in this land against acts of cruelty by parents to their children ?
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May 25, 2018 01:11pm
Individual freedom needs to be upheld always. No one should be allowed to impose his/her standards of values or morality on others
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May 25, 2018 01:20pm
good to see some governments stepping up to the plate to defend their residents, the family involved should be prosecuted if this is true and she was forced to abort the child against her will.
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May 25, 2018 02:08pm
My hats off to Italy's foreign minister who took this matter seriously. Bravo !
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May 25, 2018 02:21pm
Don't know why people here are moral policing on woman's choice to have a child out of wedlock.People involved in act are adults and know consequences.One has no right to judge others on personal things.Democratic country has court and laws to give judgement.
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May 25, 2018 02:44pm
@Aleem But you're fine with her having a baby without a wedlock.
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May 25, 2018 02:55pm
Wonderful. Congratulations Farah and thank you Italy
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May 25, 2018 03:33pm
Good for her she escaped. She should settle down there.
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May 25, 2018 03:42pm
To all those bashing the western culture, do you really think that no unmarried woman goes for an abortion in Pakistan?
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May 25, 2018 04:12pm
@Omair who gave you authority to talk about rights of an individual you don't even know.
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May 25, 2018 04:34pm
@Khalid_Toronto People who live in western culture always refer back home unusual and unethical acts for justifying their stay in western culture. At least we have a hope to go back to our origin leaving western culture but what about western culture?
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May 25, 2018 04:37pm
We Pakistanis should be thankful that we have our own country where some day I hope we will live according to Islamic values and culture. the westerners have destroyed their values and now running after muslims.
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May 25, 2018 04:51pm
Good
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May 25, 2018 04:51pm
Good
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May 25, 2018 05:28pm
@Saad Khan, actually good life does not require sacrifice of any religious values, yes in a move from one country to another some cultural values have to be modified and very few have to be aborted.
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May 25, 2018 05:57pm
No one has the right to tell another human how to live. Good decision by the Govt of Italy.
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May 25, 2018 05:58pm
Pakistani parents must be aware that different law applies to foreign born children. You can’t force upon a foreign national unlike full immunity back home.
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May 25, 2018 06:23pm
I think it is about time the old generation in India and Pakistan understand that times have changed. why do parents leave their home and move to a foreign land because their kids can have better lives then they had. Then they need to assimilate with the culture they are moving into. Trusting your children ,having faith in them can do wonders for the kids and parents. Kudos to Farah for being brave and going against the old norms. Her parents should just stay in Pakistan.
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May 25, 2018 07:30pm
We are missing one point in all the comments. Why Pakistan has handed over her citizen to another country when she wasn't a dual national and traveling on Pakistani passport. If Pakistan cannot stand for this little case then imagine how we can stand for Raymond Davis etc.
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May 25, 2018 09:36pm
@Omair Babu its women's prerogative to have or have not children and from who ever and as many children from as many men within the law. Now i dont know your laws.
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May 25, 2018 10:37pm
No punishment for the family???
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May 25, 2018 11:16pm
abortion is illegal unless theres a threat to the mother
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May 25, 2018 11:41pm
Very good !
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May 26, 2018 12:30am
@Life Good
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May 26, 2018 12:54am
Her family members who tricked her shall be prosecuted for killing a baby and torture of Farah
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May 26, 2018 12:57am
@Omair , Who are you to judge that?
Who gives you authority to become a moral police and preacher?
It is her life, it is her body.
Marriage is a contract in Islam, isn't it?
And a contract is between two parties.
You have no privy to that contract. Mind your business and your morals.
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May 26, 2018 05:07am
@The Wrong Right I guess an urgent passport was issued by Pakistani authorities and she was removed from her family and taken to Italian embassy by Pakistani authorities, right?
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May 26, 2018 07:32am
No one has the right to take the life of unborn child not even his or her own mother.
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May 26, 2018 08:32pm
@The Wrong Right - There is nothing to be ashamed about for local government without whose support Farah may not have been able to return back to Italy. Farah did not have Italian passport and for her to apply for new Pakistani passport & subsequent transfer of Italian residency permit on new passport while staying under the umbrella of her parents would have been impossible.Also what can local government do to take action against parents unless a case is filed against the parents by their daughter which would have been more counterproductive in her goal to return back to Italy. It was a bold & right step under humanitarian norms for local government to hand over their citizen to Italian embassy. Thus, Both the governments are "Right" and neither is "Wrong".
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May 27, 2018 12:22am
Well done
Best wishes
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May 27, 2018 02:27am
good outcome
her parents have failed her. hope she lives a better life without their repressive influence
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May 27, 2018 07:40am
There must be difference between human life and animal life, our religious values are based on patience.
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May 27, 2018 08:43am
@Shehla ;Welcome to reality!
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May 27, 2018 08:49am
@RI Whether someone know another or not, human rights must still prevail.
Those rights are not just for those we know!
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May 27, 2018 08:50am
At a certain point, parents have to let go and realise that their grown children are adults who have reached an age where they should be taking charge of their own lives and moving on.
An unborn child should not be sacrificed - this is murder.
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May 27, 2018 08:59am
@Good Politics : NOT everyone wants to settle in "the West"!
Some are forced by their "own people" to leave their countries and get away.
Some people from "the West" actually choose to live somewhere else!
Families of emigrants need to stop being control freaks.
First, we have to allow our children to have their choices in life.
Parents have to allow their children to grow up and be responsible adults--so they can stop being dependent on parents for life!
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May 27, 2018 09:10am
@Vinod Narang :Integrate----not necessarily assimilate!
One needs not give up one's identity and be "like others" where they live.
Just respect your own and others' needs and rights --and you will be fine anywhere.
But be aware of bigots who will demand that you become "like them" in order to eat, work, have shelter, and live in peace!
Take the best from all cultures and religions and stay out of the swamp.
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May 27, 2018 09:26am
Looking at the comments posted by different Pakistani's here I could realize that most of the Pakistani people have broad minded and does not support narrow orthodox religious lookout. It's good for society.
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May 27, 2018 10:31am
@The Wrong Right
Good observation my friend. Notice how many of the comments are (rightfully) praising Italy's action but without questioining the in-action or inability or indifference of Pakistan!
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May 27, 2018 11:57am
Had it been the matter of religion, her parents should have thought about her future in a country totally different in culture,religion,values and way of life. when it happens then we react in a way which is hazardous and not the real solution of the problem. thecase has reached to this level and now it becomesa matter of dignity. if the problem is so serious importace should be given to the brought up of the children.
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May 27, 2018 01:32pm
Parents are supposed to give values while kids are young... Especially by practicing the values themselves. If the process is started when the kids have reached the teen age, then it is too late.
In West, they don't force to follow their moral values, but they are strict in enforcing laws. The islamic values are universally positive, the west don't oppose them as long as you are a law abiding citizen.
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May 27, 2018 01:52pm
Italy is such a great country. I am glad she is back in Italy. Her narrow minded parents should be arrested, and would not be allowed to move back to Italy!
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May 27, 2018 06:36pm
@Atif. You sound very open minded. Making such comments is easy when you are not directly affected. But the question is would you feel the same way if it was your sister or daughter in that situation.
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May 29, 2018 02:22pm
Please dont move to such countries and then expect children not to follow local normal ways of life. Dont put them there in the first place and then expect them to behave differently. You cant pick and choose.
Either give them good up bringing to know good and bad and value you want to to have, forcing them to accept ghettos style will not work. You are putting your children in awkward and isolation and then forcing your thoughts on them overnight!
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