Woman rejecting marriage offer burnt to death in Pakistan
A Pakistani woman who was set on fire for refusing a marriage proposal has died of her injuries, the BBC reports.
According to the source, Maria Sadaqat, a young schoolteacher, was attacked in her home by a group of men on Sunday and died in hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday.
She suffered serious burns on nearly all of her body. Local media report that she had 85% burns.
Her family say she had turned down a marriage proposal from the son of the owner of a school she had taught at.
Campaigners say attacks against women who refuse marriage proposals are common in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in April: "The predominant causes of these killings in 2015 were domestic disputes, alleged illicit relations and exercising the right of choice in marriage."
In February, Punjab province, where the attack on Miss Sadaqat happened, passed a landmark law criminalising all forms of violence against women. However, more than 30 religious groups, including all the mainstream Islamic political parties, threatened to launch protests if the law was not repealed.
Under Islamic laws introduced in the 1980s the victim's family can pardon the perpetrator in return for money or other considerations.