A young Afghan couple who tried to elope were publicly executed by a firing squad Monday by the Taliban in Nimroz, a southwestern province. Reports indicate that the couple, 19-year-old Gul Pecha and 21-year-old Abdul Aziz, were convicted of "immoral acts." Pecha's parents reportedly had forced her to become engaged to a man she disliked before she attempted to elope with Aziz, according to CNN.
Ghullam Dastagir Azad, Nimroz's governor, told the Independent UK that the couple “had fled their homes to the neighboring village, because their parents refused to let them marry….Their parents tracked them down and handed them over to the Taliban." A Taliban spokesman has denied involvement even though the area is under nearly complete control by the Taliban.
The Guardian reported that Azad called the execution "against Islam, against the law and against the constitution".
Media Resources: Independent UK 4/14/09; The Guardian 4/15/09; CNN 4/14/09
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