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| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E5DA133AF931A15754C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E5DA133AF931A15754C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
| accessdate = 2008-08-29}}</ref> [[Afghanistan]],<ref name=Chavis>Ermachild
| accessdate = 2008-08-29}}</ref> [[Afghanistan]],<ref name=Chavis>Ermachild
Chavis, Melody, ''Meena, Heroine of Afghanistan'' (St Martin's Press, 2003), ISBN 978-0-312-30689-2</ref> [[India]],<ref name=Whalen>A. Carlson Whalen, ''Mother Earth and the Gene Machines'' (Vantage Press, 2006), ISBN 9780533153398</ref> [[Bangladesh]],<ref name=Bandyopadhyay_Khan/><ref name=CNN/> [[Pakistan]]<ref name=Bandyopadhyay_Khan/> and other nearby countries.<ref name=Bahl_Syed/> According to Taru Bahl and M.H. Syed, 80% of victims of these acid attacks are female and almost 70% are under 18 years of age.<ref name=Bahl_Syed>{{Cite book | author=Bahl, Taru & M.H. Syed | title=Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World | year=2004 | publiher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD | isbn=9788126114191 }}</ref> Concerning religion, 91 % of the attacks worldwide are committed by [[Muslim]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phyllis|first=Chesler|title=Worldwide Trends in Honor Killings|url=http://www.meforum.org/2646/worldwide-trends-in-honor-killings|publisher=Middle East Forum|accessdate=7 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wiki|first=Islam|title=Honor Related Violence|url=http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Honor_Related_Violence|accessdate=7 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=CBN|first=News|title=Islamic 'Honor Violence' Rising in the West - 91% Committed by Muslims|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUhgSU2Hb34|accessdate=7 March 2012|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
Chavis, Melody, ''Meena, Heroine of Afghanistan'' (St Martin's Press, 2003), ISBN 978-0-312-30689-2</ref> [[India]],<ref name=Whalen>A. Carlson Whalen, ''Mother Earth and the Gene Machines'' (Vantage Press, 2006), ISBN 9780533153398</ref> [[Bangladesh]],<ref name=Bandyopadhyay_Khan/><ref name=CNN/> [[Pakistan]]<ref name=Bandyopadhyay_Khan/> and other nearby countries.<ref name=Bahl_Syed/> According to Taru Bahl and M.H. Syed, 80% of victims of these acid attacks are female and almost 70% are under 18 years of age.<ref name=Bahl_Syed>{{Cite book | author=Bahl, Taru & M.H. Syed | title=Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World | year=2004 | publiher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD | isbn=9788126114191 }}</ref>


= Attacks in South Asia =
= Attacks in South Asia =

Revision as of 20:13, 20 March 2012

Acid throwing victim, Cambodia
Part of a series on
Violence against women
Killing
Sexual assault and rape
Disfigurement
Other issues
International legal framework
Related topics

Acid throwing (acid attack[1] or vitriolage) is a form of violent assault.[2] It is defined as the act of throwing acid onto the body of a person "with the intention of injuring or disfiguring her out of jealousy or revenge".[3] Perpetrators of these attacks throw acid at their victims, usually at their faces, burning them, and damaging skin tissue, often exposing and sometimes dissolving the bones.[4] The long term consequences of these attacks include blindness and permanent scarring of the face and body.[5][6][7]

These attacks are most common in Cambodia,[8] Afghanistan,[9] India,[10] Bangladesh,[5][6] Pakistan[5] and other nearby countries.[7] According to Taru Bahl and M.H. Syed, 80% of victims of these acid attacks are female and almost 70% are under 18 years of age.[7]

Attacks in South Asia

In South Asia, acid throwing attacks have been used as a form of revenge for refusal of sexual advances, proposals of marriage and demands for dowry.[5] Scholars Taru Bahl and M.H. Syed say that land disputes are another leading cause.[7]

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan in November 2008, extremists subjected schoolgirls to acid attacks for attending school.[11]


Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, where such attacks are relatively common, they are mostly a form of domestic violence.[12] The chemical agents most commonly used to commit these attacks are hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. According to Mridula Bandyopadhyay and Mahmuda Rahman Khan, it is a form of violence primarily targeted at women. They describe it as a relatively recent form of violence, with the earliest record in Bangladesh from 1983.[5] The scholar Afroza Anwary points out that acid violence occurs not only in Bangladesh but also in Pakistan, China, Ethiopia and has occurred historically in Europe.[13]

Cambodia

In Cambodia, it was reported that these attacks were mostly carried out by wives against their husbands' lovers.[8]

Gaza

In 2006 a group in Gaza calling itself "Just Swords of Islam" claimed to have thrown acid at a young woman who was dressed "immodestly," and warned other women to wear the hijab [14].

India

The Thomas Reuters Foundation survey [15] says that India is the fourth most dangerous place in the world for women to live in [16] as women belonging to any class, caste or creed and religion can be victims of this cruel form of violence and disfigurement, a premeditated crime intended to kill or maim her permanently and act as a lesson to put her in her place. In India, acid attacks on women[17] who dared to refuse a man's proposal of marriage or asked for a divorce [18] are a common form of revenge. Acid is cheap and easily available and is the quickest way to destroy a woman's life. The number of acid attacks have been rising[19]in India and there have been 68 reported acid attacks in the state of Karnataka since 1999[20]. Most of the female victims suffer more because of police apathy in dealing with cases of harassment as that of a safety issue as they refused to register a police case despite the victim being attacked thrice before meriting police aid after an acid attack[21].

Indian acid attack survivor Shirin Juwaley founded Palash Foundation [22] to help other survivors with "psycho-social rehabilitation". She also spearheads research into social norms of beauty, speaks publicly, and blogs regularly at Do I Look 'Normal'?.[23] In 2011, the principal of an Indian college refused to have Juwaley speak at her school for fear that Juwaley's story of being attacked by her husband would make students "become scared of marriage"[24]. Tom O'Neill of National Geographic reported that acid throwing is also used to enforce the caste system in modern India, where uppercaste individuals often attack Dalits for supposedly violating the order.[25].

Iran

Similarly, in the run-up to the Islamic Revolution from 1978–1979, Ayatollah Khomenei's supporters threw acid at hijab-free women and clean-shaven men in order to coerce the population into obeying strict Islamic mores.[26]

[27][28]

Pakistan

According to New York Times reporter Nicholas D. Kristof, acid attacks are at an all time high in Pakistan and increasing every year. The Pakistani attacks he describes are typically the work of husbands against their wives who have "dishonored them".[29]

According to a Rand Corporation commentary, hundreds of women in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been blinded or maimed "when acid was thrown on their unveiled faces by male fanatics who considered them improperly dressed".[30] Attacks or threats of attacks on women who failed to wear hijab or were otherwise "immodestly dressed" have been reported in other countries as well.[31]

Legislation

In 2002, Bangladesh introduced the death penalty for throwing acid and laws strictly controlling the sales of acids.[32]

Under the Qisas law of Pakistan, the perpetrator may suffer the same fate as the victim, and may be punished by having drops of acid placed in his/her eyes.[33] This law is not binding and is rarely enforced according to a New York Times report.[29] Iran has a similar law, and sentenced an attacker to be blinded in 2008. However, as of July 31, 2011, Ameneh Bahrami pardoned her attacker, thereby absolving Majid Movahedi of his crime and halting the retributive justice of Qisas.[34][35]

Lower House of Parliament in Pakistan unanimously passed the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill On May 10, 2011. As punishment, according to the bill individuals held responsible for acid throwing face harsh fines and life in prison. Over the past few years, acid throwing has been recognized by many countries as one of the latest and most excruciating forms of violence committed against women.

Victims and treatment

There is a high survival rate amongst victims of acid attacks. Consequently the victim is faced with physical challenges, which require long term surgical treatment, as well as psychological challenges, which require in-depth intervention from psychologists and counsellors at each stage of physical recovery.[citation needed]

In Bangladesh, the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), Nairpokkho, Action Aid, and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee's Community Empowerment & Strengthening Local Institutions Programme assist survivors in Bangladesh.[13] The Acid Survivors Foundation in Pakistan (ASF-P) operates in Islamabad offering medical, psychological and rehabilitation support.[36] The Acid Survivors Foundation in Uganda (ASF-U) operates in Kampala and also provides counselling and rehabilitation treatment to victims of acid attacks, as well as their families if need be.[37] Additionally in Cambodia, LICADHO, the Association of the Blind in Cambodia and the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC) all assist survivors of acid attacks. The Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) provides specialist support to its sister organisations in Africa and Asia through its specialist team who work across the organisations transferring medical, psychological and social rehabilitation skills whilst supporting knowledge sharing and best practice.[38][39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cambodian victim on her acid attack". BBC News. 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  2. ^ Karmakar, R.N. (2003). Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. ISBN 8187504692. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Vij, Krishan (2003). Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology : Principles and Practice, 5th Edition. p. 462. ISBN 9788131226841. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Swanson, Jordan (Spring 2002). "Acid attacks: Bangladesh's efforts to stop the violence". Harvard Health Policy Review. Vol. 3, no. Spring 2002. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite news}}: More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Bandyopadhyay, Mridula and Mahmuda Rahman Khan, 'Loss of face: violence against women in South Asia' in Lenore Manderson, Linda Rae Bennett (eds) Violence Against Women in Asian Societies (Routledge, 2003), ISBN 9780700717415
  6. ^ a b "CNN.com - Bangladesh combats an acid onslaught against women - November 11, 2000". Archived from the original on September 22, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  7. ^ a b c d Bahl, Taru & M.H. Syed (2004). Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World. ISBN 9788126114191. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Mydans, Seth (2001-07-22). "Vengeance Destroys Faces, and Souls, in Cambodia". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |publiher= and |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Ermachild Chavis, Melody, Meena, Heroine of Afghanistan (St Martin's Press, 2003), ISBN 978-0-312-30689-2
  10. ^ A. Carlson Whalen, Mother Earth and the Gene Machines (Vantage Press, 2006), ISBN 9780533153398
  11. ^ Dexter Filkins (2009-01-13). "Afghan Girls, Scarred by Acid, Defy Terror, Embracing School". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Scholte, Marianne (2006-03-17). "Acid Attacks in Bangladesh: A Voice for the Victims". Retrieved 2008-03-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b Anwary, Afroza (Spring 2002). "Acid Violence And Medical Care In Bangladesh: Women's Activism as Carework". Gender & Society. Vol. 17, no. 2003. pp. 305–313. doi:10.1177/0891243202250851. Retrieved 2008-06-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "Anwary" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Khaled Abu Toameh (2006-12-02). "Gaza women warned of immodesty".
  15. ^ {{cite news | last = Reuters | first =Thomas | title =The World's 5 Most Dangerous Countries For Women: Thomson Reuters Foundation Survey | date = 20110813 | url =http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/womens-rights/dangerpoll/ | accessdate =June2011}
  16. ^ Lakshmibai, Gayatri (20110813). "The woman who conquered an acid attack". Retrieved August 22, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Carney, Scott (August 22, 2007). "Acid Attacks on Women in India". Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  18. ^ Nadar, Ganesh (20110711). "The woman who conquered an acid attack". Retrieved August 22, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ India's acid victims demand justice, BBC News, 9 April 2008
  20. ^ Acid test for Indian society, The Guardian, July 29th 2008
  21. ^ Acid test for Indian society, The Hindu, February 3, 2012
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ [2]
  24. ^ Sujan, Dheera (August 2011). "An open letter about beauty and ugliness". South Asia Wired. No. August 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  25. ^ O'Neill, Tom (June 2003). "India's Untouchables". National Geographic. pp. 2–31.
  26. ^ Taheri, Amir (2010). The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Afshin Molavi claims that following the mandating of the covering of hair by women in Iran, "a woman was threatened with an acid attack for not being wearing a hijab". Molavi, Afshin (2005). The soul of Iran: a nation's journey to freedom. New York. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-393-32597-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  28. ^ Amir Taheri claims that in 1985 "an 18-year-old college student at the American University in Beirut was the victim of an acid attack by a group of Hezbollah youths who claimed to object to the way in which he was dressed". Taheri, Amir (1987). Holy terror: the inside story of Islamic Terrorism. New York. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-09-165970-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  29. ^ a b The New York Times http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/29/opinion/1194834033797/acid-attack.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ^ "Commentary. "French Tussle Over Muslim Head Scarf is Positive Push for Women's Rights" by Cheryl Benard".
  31. ^ Chavis, Melody Ermachild (2003). Meena, heroine of Afghanistan: the martyr who founded RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. New York, N.Y. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-312-30689-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  32. ^ Roland Buerk (2006-07-28). "Bangladesh's acid attack problem". Retrieved 2008-06-14. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Juliette Terzieff (July 13, 2004). "Pakistan's Acid-Attack Victims Press for Justice". Retrieved 2008-05-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publiher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Court orders Iranian man blinded". BBC News. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  35. ^ "Iranian Acid Attack Victim Pardons Culprit". Al Jazeera English. 2011-07-31. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  36. ^ http://www.asti.org.uk/index.php/news/brutal-disfigurement-of-survivors-attacked-by-acid-the-acid-survivors-found/
  37. ^ http://www.france24.com/en/20080730-uganda-kampala-society-acid-attack
  38. ^ Depilex Smileagain Foundation
  39. ^ ASTI

Further reading

Reports of acid attacks from around the world

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