21 year old Gulnaz who was raped in 2009 and then jailed for adultery would be released from jail. The Afghan president Hamid Karzai had earlier pardoned her on the condition that she would marry her attacker. But the victims lawyer clarified that there were no such conditions put forward for her release and that she is free to marry whomever she wants.

The plight of women even after the overthrow of the Taliban is said to be unimaginable and very pitiable. This case has helped draw international attention to the issue. Many human rights organizations have reported that there are still hundreds of women still suffering in Afghan jails and that too mostly for moral crimes. An end must be brought to his culture of impunity and the Afghan police must take strict action against all those people involved in committing violence against women.

Afghan rape victim gets a presidential pardon

Report by Priyanka S Menon