Zarina says her youth has been destroyed
Posted on 07/29/2003 5:09:55 AM PDT by alnitak
"It was like burning in hell," says Zarina Ramzan, recalling how acid burned through her upper body, melting away the skin and flesh on her face, neck and chest.
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Zarina says her youth has been destroyed
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Just over a year ago, in the early hours of 7 July, a man sneaked into her home and poured the acid over her face.
Her neighbour, Nazar Hussain, is now on trial for attempted murder. Prosecutors say he wanted revenge because Zarina had rejected his advances.
On that hot July night, Zarina had drifted off to sleep around 0300, only to awake with a burning sensation on her face and upper body.
"I'm on fire!" wailed the 18-year-old girl, a wife and mother of a four-month-old baby, as her face began to dissolve.
'Alarming increase'
Dozens of women are burnt by acid every year in Pakistan, a form of violence that is on the rise.
Last year a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: "Particularly alarming was the soaring rate of cases of mutilation by the pouring of acid over women, in a crime that acted to scar them permanently, both physically and emotionally."
There were 46 cases of acid attacks on women reported in Pakistan's largest province, Punjab, in 2002.
 Zarina before the attack
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Violence against women is common among the poor and uneducated, many of whom live in feudal societies.
Although acid attacks only account for a fraction of the overall incidents of violence against women, they are probably the most monstrous.
Acid mutilates and maims the victim, condemning her to lifelong isolation and emotional anguish.
This form of violence is most common in Punjab, Pakistan's agricultural heartland.
It is most likely to occur in the summer, as happened to Zarina, when acid is used for agricultural purposes.
Women's activist Shahnaz Bukhari was curious as to why most attacks occur in the summer. She found that certain seeds sown during summer are first soaked in acid.
Ms Bukhari runs the Progressive Women's Association in Islamabad which, since 1988, has helped burn victims and highlighted the issue nationally and internationally.
'Worse than death'
The rise in cases of acid burns is mainly because it is easy to get.
A bottle for domestic use can be bought for just 20 rupees, less than half a US dollar.
 Zarina's husband with a reminder of their earlier life
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And the attack has devastating long-term consequences.
"A woman burnt by acid is like a living corpse," says Uzma Saeed, a lawyer working with a women's non-government organisation in Lahore.
"Those who commit such vengeful acts seek to sentence their victims to a plight worse than death."
Zarina Ramzan has already undergone 11 plastic surgery operations.
Her eyelids have melted together. The acid burned out her right eye.
But she can see light through her left one, raising hopes that she may be able to see again.
Her nose is dissolved but surgery allows her to breathe through two slits where her nostrils once were.
Her lower lip melted down to her chin in the attack.
It has been detached surgically to allow her to eat.
"We are poor, ignorant people," laments Zarina.
"We didn't know that washing away the acid would have meant less damage."
It is the abject poverty of acid burn victims, and indeed women victims of other kinds of violence, that has kept the issue off the main political agenda.
"This is an issue only of the poor, that's why nothing has been done," comments Shahnaz Bukhari.
"For the policy makers, these people do not exist."
'No improvement'
Pakistan's current parliament has an unprecedented number of women legislators.
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 A woman burnt by acid is like a living corpse
Uzma Saeed
Lawyer
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Prior to the general election last October, women were also given 33% representation in local government as part of President General Pervez Musharraf's devolution plan.
But campaigners say this unprecedented increase in female representation in parliament and local government has not translated into any improvement in women's status.
"I have brought to light 39 cases of violence against women since the elections," protests Ms Bukhari.
"What have the women legislators done in the last eight months?"
As for Zarina, she held her own demonstration outside parliament under intense sun hoping for justice.
"Other than coming nearer to get a closer look, everyone just walked away," she complains.
She eventually got help from the Crisis Centre for Women in Distress in Islamabad.
It is one of three such centres set up by the Ministry of Women's Development to help female victims of domestic violence and is financing her treatment at an Islamabad hospital.
"Tell her doctor to operate on her eye first so she can see," says Zarina's grandmother.
But as well as medical treatment, Zarina also wants justice. "He has destroyed my youth," she says, referring to her alleged attacker.
"I do not want him to be released from jail."
Send us your comments using the form below.
The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:
As a person who works with strongly corrosive materials I can only imagine the horror that these victims must have suffered. There must be a strong punishment for committing such a horrendous crime. Is it also possible that a basic education campaign may also help to significantly reduce the damage caused by such attacks?
Jake, U.K.
My first reaction is one of undiluted horror, followed by a sense of urgency that something needs to be done at the educational, and the legal level. Furthermore the cursed acid should be taken off the shelf no matter the consequences to Pakistani agriculture and the perpetuators should be given life imprisonment.
Mario de Grossi, Italy
Men caught throwing acid on women should they themselves be dipped in acid tanks , slowly....
David, USA
People who have done this should be punished severely. General Musharaf promised a lot of things when he came to power and I think he has done everything to bring this country back to stability. If he did not focus on these society's horrifying realities then our society won't be able to produce better human beings to sustain current economic trend. People who are doing this to their female family members should at least get life imprisonment if not death penalty. All these women who have suffered won't get their lives back now. Is the parliament going to be a silent spectator?
Salman Anwer, Los Angeles, USA
I am requesting the court, give him same punishment i.e. pour acid on his face so that in future nobody dare to commit this type of offence
Sunil Kumar g, Malaysia
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Punishment of the perpetrator does little for the victim
Sheila Brown, Australia
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Punishment of the perpetrator does little for the victim condemned to a life of torture. Is it not possible for international pressure to be brought to bear to prohibit the apparent widespread sales and distribution of acid? Such a ban would prevent these barbarous acts at source. What is the United Nations doing to ameliorate this situation?
Sheila Brown, Australia
People who commit such acts are shameful black spots but by no means represent any nation, province, culture or otherwise. These culprits should be publicly punished with maximum possible punishment so as to counter any other to be culprits from committing such acts.
Khalid Mushtaq, Pakistan
People resorting to such forms of violence should be given capital punishment.
Vivek Chatrath, Singapore
I read the story of Zarina. It's barbaric act. The accused person should first get lashing and than should be hanged publicly, so that in future no one dares to repeat this act.
Ali Qadir, Pakistan
Crime is being committed everywhere, why scream only when it's being committed in the third world. Why, is there no crime more hideous in countries like America, Britain etc......
Piruz Bujang, Malaysia
Such criminals must get rigorous punishment. The best thing would be to burn the crooks with the acid in the same they did to the victims. But the most unfortunate thing is that in countries like ours even the most wicked people and mass-murderers gets respectful release from the corrupt judicial systems.
Mohsin A.D., Saudi Arabia
Western countries should not provide aid to countries where women are persecuted.
Patrick Shore, Ireland
This story sickens me. That poor woman! Her attacker should stay in prison for a VERY, VERY long time! He should be made an example of, and used to frighten other men out of the same course of action. It is abominable that women should be treated so badly.
Kym Kettler-Paddock, The Netherlands
1) I find myself in agreement with the respondent who said that the perpetrator should be punished with what he inflicted on his victim.
2) The third world is a fount of barbarism. That's why it is the third world.
Is it not possible for international pressure to be brought to bear to prohibit the apparent widespread sales and distribution of acid? Such a ban would prevent these barbarous acts at source. What is the United Nations doing to ameliorate this situation?
I barely know where to start with thinking like this.
Punishment of the perpetrator does little for the victim condemned to a life of torture. Is it not possible for international pressure to be brought to bear to prohibit the apparent widespread sales and distribution of acid? Such a ban would prevent these barbarous acts at source. What is the United Nations doing to ameliorate this situation? Sheila Brown, Australia
So...rather than punish someone for a vicious crime, they should punish everyone by restricting the entire country's agriculture. Riiiight. And punishment does little for the victim? How about allowing her to sleep a little easier knowing he won't come after her again, or do it to anyone else? Unreal.
Oh and don't you worry a bit about the UN, Sheila. I'm sure they'll get right on it after they finish fixing things in Africa.
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