January 07, 2009	Wednesday	Muharram 09, 1430

GHAZNI, Jan 6: An Afghan teenager is in serious condition after her mother and brother allegedly sliced open her belly to remove a five-month-old foetus from a rape, officials said on Tuesday.

The girl’s relatives, who are farmers, had apparently decided to remove the unborn child to protect the family honour, a governor told AFP, with rape and pregnancy outside of marriage a disgrace in the conservative society.

She had not told her family she was pregnant, said Habiba Sarabi, governor of Bamiyan.

“When the family realised two days ago that she was pregnant, the mother and brother tied up her hands and legs and took her to a stable where they sliced open her belly with a blade and took the foetus away,” she said.