VideoBite: Taliban sparks outrage in Pakistan

Taliban Flogging of Teenage Girl Rattles Pakistan -Salman Masood

[A] video shot on a cellphone and widely circulated, shows a a 17-year-old resident of Kabal held face down as a Taliban commander whips her repeatedly with a leather strap. “Leave me for the moment — you can beat me again later,” she screams, pleading for a reprieve and writhing in pain.

Paying no heed, the commander orders those holding her to tighten their grip and continues the public flogging. A large group of men quietly stands and watches in a circle around her.

The images, which have been broadcast repeatedly by private television news networks in Pakistan, have caused outrage here and set off bitter condemnation by rights activists and politicians. They have also raised questions about the government’s decision to enter into a deal that effectively ceded [the region] to the Taliban and allowed them to impose Islamic law.

[The video] demonstrates vividly how the Taliban have used public displays of punishment to terrify and control the local population.

It was not clear what the young woman was accused of. One account said she had stepped out of her house without being escorted by a male family member, according to Samar Minallah, a rights activist. Ms. Minallah said she distributed the video to local news outlets after it was sent to her by someone from Swat three days ago.

Another account said a local Taliban commander had falsely accused the teenager of violating Islamic law after she refused to accept his marriage proposal. A Taliban spokesman defended the punishment but said it should not have been done in public.
[New York Times]
[Hat Tip: NancyV]
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