KABUL (Pajhwok): Mesharano Jirga on Tuesday appointed a delegation to investigate alleged rape of 35 women prisoners by prosecutors and judges in the western zone of the country.
A recent research conducted by the Rights and Justice Organisation show some women were raped by lawyers and judges in Herat, Farah, Ghor, Badghis and Nimroz provinces.
Senator Abdul Baqi Baryal told the upper house in Tuesday that the government should not behave irresponsibly because it would harm people’s trust over institutions.
He said the publication of such reports raised questions about the government’s legal system and the matter should be made clear.
Ahmad Tabriz Juraat, civil society head for the organisation in the western zone, had claimed that nine lawyers and six judges in Herat, six lawyers and four judges in Badghis, five lawyers and four judges in Ghor, four lawyers and three judges in Farah and three lawyers and two judges in Nimroz had sexually assaulted female prisoners.
Shamsuddin Shams, another official of the organization, also admitted at least 35 women had been raped in western provinces. He also called for justice to the victims.
Senate deputy chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, calling such attacks on women as unforgivable formed a delegation to investigate the matter.
Earlier, Ihsanullah Hayat, the Herat governor’s spokesman, had said a committee had been formed to investigate allegations that 35 women inmates had been raped by attorneys and judges.
Herat’s attorney general office and appellant court had also appointed a delegation to investigate the allegations.
nh/ma