Pakistan Arrests Men Who Assaulted Woman Charged With Apostasy

Today's Pakistan Express Tribune reports that in the northeastern Pakistani city of Gujranwala, some 25 men have been arrested for assaulting a woman-- identified as Sana-- whom they accused of apostasy. Sana had converted from Christianity to Islam six months ago and had moved to the village with her two sons. However villagers accused her of still seeing her Christian husband. Sana denies that allegation and says that the villagers were stirred up by one of her attackers whose proposal of marriage she had turned down. The men who attacked her, shaved her head, required her to put on a garland made of shoes and paraded her through the village. The men will appear in an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala today, charged with violating Sec. 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code (Assault to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Sec. 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.