16 sentenced to death in Bangladesh for burning teen alive after she accused teacher of sexual assault
- Nusrat Jahan Rafi was set on fire in April after she refused to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against the principal of her Islamic seminary
- The principal and two females were among the 16 sentenced to death
The case highlights what activists say is a culture of impunity over sexual violence in the South Asian country of 168 million people, as well as abuse rife in around 20,000 seminaries that educate mostly poor and rural students.
Nusrat Jahan Rafi, 19, was doused in kerosene and set on fire on April 6 after she made a sexual harassment complaint against the principal of her rural Islamic seminary.
The head teacher, who a court found had ordered the brutal killing from jail after being arrested over the harassment claim, was among those sentenced to death.
Others included activists from the ruling Awami League party and some students – including two females – who either took part in the killing or guarded the gates of the seminary while it took place.