Forced marriages
The week's news at a glance.
Sultanwala, Pakistan
Five girls, all cousins, appealed to Pakistan’s president and Supreme Court last week to save them from forced marriages. When the girls were young children 14 years ago, a village council ordered that as “compensation” for a murder committed by one of their fathers, they be married off to members of the victim’s family. The girls, who are all well educated, say they will kill themselves if forced to go through with the nuptials. Jehan Khan Niazi, father of three of the girls, said the blood money he paid should be enough. “I cannot hand over my girls like goats to marry these illiterate boys,” he said. “It is un-Islamic.” Vani, the tradition of awarding girls in marriage as compensation, was outlawed in Pakistan last year, but many villages continue to practice it.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Protein obsession is oversaturating the health food space
Under the Radar Some experts say that fiber is now the most important macro to focus on
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
RFK Jr.'s focus on autism draws the ire of researchers
In the Spotlight Many of Kennedy's assertions have been condemned by experts and advocates
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
Codeword: April 23, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff