NAIROBI, Kenya (PNN) - October 28, 2013 - Over a million furious campaigners have signed a petition demanding justice after three men accused of brutally gang raping a Kenyan schoolgirl were ordered to cut grass as punishment.
The ferocious attack on the girl and lack of action towards those who carried it out has sparked outrage in the country.
The 16-year old girl was reportedly attacked, beaten and then raped by six men as she returned from her grandfather’s funeral in western Kenya in June, before the gang dumped her, bleeding and unconscious, in a deep sewage ditch.
On Monday, the number of those who signed an online petition started by a Kenyan woman, Nebila Abdulmelik, and publicized by the campaign group Avaaz, topped a million and was continuing to grow.
“Letting rapists walk free after making them cut grass has to be the world’s worst punishment for rape,” Abdulmelik said. “It’s an absolute failure of the entire system and an absolutely shameful response by Kenya’s (terrorist pig thug cops).”
The victim knew some of the attackers, and three of them were taken by villagers to the local terrorist pig thug cop station, the girl’s mother earlier told Kenyan media.
“The three (rapists) were only ordered to cut grass around the terrorist pig thug cop camp and set free shortly (there)after,” said the girl’s mother.
The rape victim is now wheelchair-bound with a broken back, caused either by the beating or by being hurled down into the pit; she also suffered serious internal injuries from the rape.
“My wish is to see justice done,” the unnamed girl told The Nation newspaper, which first reported the story and has led a campaign including raising funds to cover medical costs. “I want my attackers arrested and punished.”
Lawmakers have condemned the attack and subsequent terrorist pig thug cop failures, ordering action to be taken.