A young woman from Vlora has been hospitalized following a brutal assault by her father, brother, and fiancé. The 29-year-old woman had refused to live with her partner, as her family had arranged her engagement without her consent.
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| Photo illustration showing a man about to punch a woman with his left hand and the woman reacting by putting her hands over her face to protect herself |
According to local media, neighbors alerted the police after hearing the young woman's screams. The police found the woman in a severely deteriorated physical and psychological state. It was also revealed that she suffers from epilepsy.
"The incident occurred in the home where she lived with her parents. It is reported that the reason for the incident was her refusal to start cohabitating with the 34-year-old man. The family had arranged the engagement without her wish or approval. Her resistance led to violence not only from her fiancé but also from her father and brother. The 29-year-old was found in a very poor psycho-emotional and physical condition. She had visible marks on her body and it was learned that she had been suffering from epilepsy for several years. The violence inflicted by the three family members worsened her condition," Haska reported.
The police have arrested her father, Astrit Barjami, her brother, Erlind Barjami, and her fiancé, Armandi Janka. During a search conducted by the Vlora police, a hunting rifle and military ammunition were found and seized in the 60-year-old father's home.
This incident has sparked outrage and highlights the issue of forced engagements and domestic violence. The young woman’s plight underscores the urgent need for societal change and stronger protections for women’s rights in Albania.