Two Pakistani men convicted of gang-raping a French tourist in front of her three children six years ago will face the death penalty after a court dismissed their appeal. Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali were found guilty in March 2021 of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism offences for the attack on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway. They were originally handed death sentences, but both appealed, arguing gaps in the prosecution's case and claiming the verdict was unjust.
Appeal Dismissed
On Wednesday, a two-judge panel rejected the appeal after prosecutors presented what they described as overwhelming evidence against the men. The English-language Pakistani outlet Dawn reported the decision, highlighting the court's affirmation of the lower court's ruling.
The Attack
According to police and prosecutors, the attack occurred on September 9, 2020, after the French woman and her children became stranded on the motorway outside Lahore due to running out of fuel. She locked the car doors while waiting for assistance, but the assailants broke a window, dragged her out, and raped her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children. They also stole money, jewelry, and bank cards before fleeing. The woman was left traumatized but provided police with basic descriptions of her attackers.
Investigation and Conviction
Police tracked the men using mobile phone data and arrested them days after the incident. DNA evidence from the crime scene matched the suspects. The survivor identified both men during a hearing, and Ali confessed to the crime before a magistrate. An anti-terrorism court handled the trial in 2021 for expediency.
Public Outcry and Victim Blaming
The case sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with activists demanding public executions. It also led to mass protests across Pakistan after a senior police officer, Umer Sheikh, suggested the woman was partly to blame for being out late alone with her children. His comments provoked a backlash, with many accusing him of victim-blaming.
Death Penalty Context
The decision to uphold the death penalty comes amid calls from human rights activists for harsher penalties for rapists. While sexual abuse against Pakistani women is common, crimes against foreigners are rare. Many women in Pakistan do not report such incidents due to stigma and a legal system where rapists often evade justice. Pakistan is among the world's most frequent users of the death penalty, according to Justice Project Pakistan, with executions carried out by hanging.
