IWPR Article on Sexual Assault of Child Prompts Police Sacking

As a result of IWPR journalist Ibrahimi's report on the sexual assault of a young girl, a police chief and four of his associates were sacked and are facing charges of criminal negligence.

Although IWPR's highly successful and long-running Helmand project was completed in April, IWPR reporters have continued to provide vital coverage of human rights related issues.

As a result of Ibrahimi's report, published on August 27, the police chief and four of his associates were sacked and are facing charges of criminal negligence.

In the article Rape Surrounded by Impunity and Silence, veteran IWPR reporter Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi documented the case of a 12-year-old girl, Anisa, who was raped by five armed men in her own home in the province of Sar-e-Pul.

Normally in Afganistan, victims of sexual assaults are too scared to speak out, for fear of rejection by the community. On some occasions, rape victims have been rejected by their families and even killed because of the stigma associated with an attack.

In spite of this, Anisa's family came forward, demanding justice for the child, and inviting the press to report on the case.

Ibrahimi was one of a few reporters invited to a press conference, at which he asked difficult questions of the local police chief and of the central government.

As a result of Ibrahimi's report, published on August 27, the police chief and four of his associates were sacked and are facing charges of criminal negligence.

One of the girl's alleged attackers has been arrested, while the other four have fled the region.

IWPR's coverage of the case garnered much attention. Time Magazine reporter Aryn Baker visited IWPR and met MacKenzie, as well as Ibrahimi.

Baker sought the advice of MacKenzie and Ibrahimi as she prepared for a trip to the north. Her story, Afghanistan's Epidemic of Child Rape, appeared in Time on August 17.

Time Magazine reporter Aryn Baker met IWPR programme director Jean MacKenzie and project manager Abaceen Nasimi to prepare for her trip to the north of Afghanistan.