Author: IANS
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 29, 2009
URL: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200906291011.htm
A widow was whipped 202 times and a man 101
times following a fatwa by a religious leader for their alleged involvement
in "anti-social activity" in a village in southeastern Bangladesh,
prompting local protests and action by the police.
Piara Begum, a widow of 40, and Mamun Miah,
25, were whipped before hundreds of people at Khaiyar in Comilla district
on Saturday night.
The woman fell unconscious and was rushed
to hospital. Doctors said she was critically injured and needed to be given
intensive treatment.
Ms. Miah was whipped 101 times, The Daily
Star newspaper said on Monday.
Punishment under a fatwa is held illegal as
per a high court ruling of 2001 in Bangladesh that has a predominant Sunni
Muslim population.
The police arrested six people, including
Moulana Mohammed Manirul Islam, a religious leader working in the local madrassa.
Piara Begum filed a case with the Debidwar
police station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
