19-year-old woman is sentenced to death for getting raped at gunpoint in Pakistan

A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced to death by stoning for being raped by her cousin at gunpoint. The woman said she was sleeping at her family home in Rajanpur, in the country's central Punjab province, when her cousin attacked her.

She reported the crime to the local tribal court called panchayat but she was told she intentionally seduced her cousin.


The panchayat, which included the alleged rapist's father, then found her guilty of adultery and declared her an adulteress. She was sentenced to death by stoning or to be sold off, according to the Hindustan Times. The council at the tribal court also decided that the alleged rapist was to walk free.

The convicted woman and her father went to the police the day following the trial and the police have now launched an official investigation and issued an arrest warrant for the members of the tribal council. Another warrant has also been issued for the alleged rapist. The convicted woman has been taken to a refuge away from the village for her safety.