Swara-The Human Shield
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Swara The Human Shield A Study on the Custom of Swara in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan By Ethnomedia, Islamabad May 2006 i This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID ii Preface................................................................................................................................................ vii Contents Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................... ix List of Acronyms............................................................................................................................... xi Glossary of Key Terms..................................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary......................................................................................................................... xiv 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Structure of this Study................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Purpose of this Study................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Methodology.............................................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Research Team........................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Unintended Interventions........................................................................................................... 15 1.6 Constraints and Mitigation Strategies......................................................................................... 21 2. Questioning the Norm ........................................................................................................................... 2.1 Human Rights in Pakistan ......................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Progressive Directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan ........................................................ 26 2.3 Actors in Human Rights ............................................................................................................ 31 2.4 Persisting Discrimination .......................................................................................................... 35 3. Understanding Swara........................................................................................................................... 3.1 History of Swara........................................................................................................................ 38 3.2 Women and the Concept of Honour.......................................................................................... 41 3.3 Swara of Yesterday and Today.................................................................................................. 42 3.4 Islam and Swara........................................................................................................................ 47 3.5 Swara and legal Jurisprudence ................................................................................................. 51 3.6 Dynamics of Swara .................................................................................................................. 53 3.7 Process of conducting Swara ................................................................................................... 54 3.8 Types of Swara ......................................................................................................................... 56 3.9 Analyzing Swara ................................................................................................................ 61 3.10 Key Findings ...................................................................................................................... 71 3.11 Primary Reasons for Performing Swara ............................................................................. 83 3.12 The Winners and Losers ..................................................................................................... 87 3.13 Analytical Inferences ........................................................................................................... 93 4. Taking Collective Action against Swara............................................................................................ 4.1 Voices of Changes .................................................................................................................... 96 4.2 Prioritizing Collective Action ................................................................................................. 104 4.3 Recommendations..................................................................................................................... 107 4.4 In Her Words ............................................................................................................................ 111 Annexure ........................................................................................................................................ 113 References ...................................................................................................................................... 142 iii Dedicated to the girls Whom no one could reach out to. Who endured the pain and scorn on behalf of the perpetrators in the form of 'swara','vanni', 'khoon baha' or 'sang chatti'. To all those innocent little girls who were promised as compensation for their brother's, father's or uncle's crimes, some even before they were born. It is a dedication to those girls/women, who silently put an end to their lives while giving life to their fathers ---the custodians of their 'honour'. Girls from Kashmore, Sind who were promised as compensation in June 2006 KTN Sind. An Ethnomedia Publication. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reprinted, reproduced or utilized without the prior permission of Ethnomedia. Ethnomedia and Development is a registered Non-Government Organization that promotes a culturally sensitive development approach. Ethnomedia, uses media and research to promote values of dignity and justice. By doing so, it builds a culture of human rights through print media, electronic media, research, public forums and workshops. [email protected] www.ethnomedia.pk iv Team Members Lead Researcher/Coordinator Samar Minallah Technical Editor Research Team Tahira Syed Data Analysis/ Rafaqat Bibi Entry Faheema Bibi Akbar Malik Sakhawat Shah Research Shahida Bibi Associates Nur-ul-Amin Rooh-ul-Amin Tariq Baswara Bibi Poetry Nasira Anjum Shafqat Rani Zaitoon Bano Dilraz Bibi Darwesh Durrani Safia Bibi Legal/ Religious Ajmal Mansoor Zubair Experts Mansoor Ali Shah (Advocate) Raja Afzal Mehdi (Advocate) Media Resource Humaira Masiudin (Advocate) Persons Mudassara Sabreen Muqaddam Khan (Swabi) (Lecturer Islamic University) Shams-ul-Haq (Mardan) Editing and Case Studies Compilation Cultural Experts Photography Ghazala Minallah Samar Minallah Dr Sher Zaman Taizi Salma Yaqub Mushtaq Shafaq v Day halaq zairey khog wee, dhroon ee Kanree bootee pe khoshalla ee A Brother and Sister from Bajaur. The news of the birth of a boy is sweet Even nature celebrates it. (A Pushtu Proverb) vi Preface A Pukhtun girl, with her little 'loopata' (veil) tucked behind her ears, very soon learns the art of endurance and modesty. She also manages to balance her little brother on her frail waist, making sure he does not fall on the rugged ground where she stands barefoot. From childhood she hands him the better portion of meat, waives off her portion of inheritance in his favour, transforms herself from an 'ajaza' (helpless) to a human shield ready to brave what may come towards her family's male members. As she grows up she is expected to join the silent band of fellow women, who spend their lives upholding honour by preserving and protecting it through sacrifice, irrespective of the consequences. Women are seen as an embodiment of honour; honour that must be protected and preserved, at any cost. Honour that can be preserved by simply showing 'melmastiya' or hospitality towards one's guest can also be achieved by taking 'badal' or revenge for one's loss of honour. Once a dispute arises indigenous forms of dispute resolution follow. One such culturally sanctioned form of dispute resolution involves women in the form of 'Swara', where a girl is given in marriage to the enemy's family as compensation for a crime committed by a male relative. It is argued that 'Swara' is practiced for the larger, collective good. Since long we have been hearing about the practical 'logic' behind this culturally sanctioned form of violence. It has been over four years now, since I first conducted interviews to record the feelings of women/ girls given as swara. I personally feel that in the garb of striving for the collective good we are not only taking advantage of these silent preservers of honour, but encouraging crime as well, by shielding the perpetrator of the crime behind an innocent girl's 'chadar' (veil). In the past, Pukhtunwali has no doubt, been playing the role of a set of