Lahore, Pakistan
Four of the men convicted in a notorious gang rape were freed this week, pending a new trial by the Supreme Court. In 2002, the village council in remote Meerwala ordered that Mukhtaran Mai be gang-raped by four men, as a punishment for her family because her brother had taken a lover from a rival tribe. The four men, along with two council members, were sentenced to death. Last month, an Islamic court overturned the convictions, but then a higher Islamic court overturned that ruling. The Supreme Court agreed to take the case, but set no date for the new trial, and the men have been released. Gang rape is common in tribal areas of Pakistan, but victims almost never come forward. Mai, who has become a hero among Pakistani women, says she now fears for her life.
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.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of JulyCartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Crossword: July 5, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
