THE tragic rape incident is traumatising and heart-rending for the nation. The man convicted for little Zainab’s murder was hanged, but has that stopped child molestation, rape, murder? Harsh punishments are not the solution, they only satiate — temporarily — the public’s outrage.

Anger at child abuse and rape is understandable but the death penalty or public hanging of rapists is no solution and only absolves the state of its perennial and systemic failure to protect women and children.

What is needed is for the state to address the stigma, the pathetic and response by the justice system, and other social and structural barriers associated with this heinous crime. This may seem a tall order when this government and its institutions are busy picking up citizens besides persecuting their opponents to focus on these issues.

Moreover, in a state driven by security paranoia what is given more importance is to expend (read waste) its puny resources on protecting its serving/retired mandarins from corruption allegations than to protect the honour and rights of women, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

Incidents like the motorway rape incident indicate a deeper malaise that warrants a national response so as to put an end to the curse that stems from a culture that encourages impunity.

On the other hand calls for public hanging of rapists only depict male fantasies of violent revenge. To end abuse against women, it is important that we address the concerns raised by women. Our fetish for violent spectacles will never eradicate the social, cultural and economic roots of oppression.

Abdullah Zahid
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2020