Two sisters, aged just 15 and 23-years-old have been sentenced to be raped, as punishment for their brother running off with another woman.
Their story is shocking but sadly not uncommon. To try and raise awareness of their plight, and other women suffering the same fate, Amnesty International are telling their story.
The decision to carry out this punishment was made illegally, by an unelected all male village council just outside of Dehli.
After they found the girls’ older brother had fled with his married lover, they planned to march the young women naked through the streets, with blackened faces, before being raped to ‘avenge’ his actions.
Another brother of one of the sisters spoke to Amnesty International. He told them that since his family fled, their home had been ransacked. He also explained the power of that the council held saying: “Their decision is final.”
They have filed a petition with India's Supreme Court asking for protection and have launched a petition calling on the Indian authorities to protect the sisters.
In an appeal message they said: “Unelected village councils such as this are widespread in parts of India. More often than not they are made up of older men from dominant castes, who prescribe rules for social behaviour and interaction in villages.
“Nothing could justify this abhorrent punishment. It's not fair. It's not right. And it's against the law.”