A transgender woman was kidnapped, physically abused and had her head shaved by a gang after she refused to give them money, said an activist group.

Shakeela, a dancer from Mardan in Pakistan, was taken on June 4 while the country celebrated Eid al-Fitr, a major Islamic holiday.

The kidnappers asked her to pay protection money of 1 million rupees (£5,000) or else they would beat her up.

When she said that she couldn’t pay, she was humiliated and beaten.

64-year-old Farzana Jan, leader of the activist group Trans Action Pakistan, said the same group has already targeted Shakeela before.

On other cases, the gang demanded smaller ransoms – 50,000 rupees and 40,000 rupees – but Shakeela couldn’t pay.

“Now they have demanded a huge amount. They’ve asked for one million Pakistani rupees,” Farzan said to Metro. “It’s impossible for Shakeela to pay this money.”

Shakeela described the ransoms as a kind of protection money paid to the gang so that she could dance in the area.

She decided to speak out about the attack to pressure the local police into taking actions. Farzan said that while arrests are common after attacks, most do not lead to convictions.

“The violence is high on the ground but the prosecution and conviction rate is zero,” she said.

One internet user commented: “You can see it in the eyes the deep sadness when ones spirit has been broken. This is so sad and uncalled for.”

Another wrote: “Shocking that they haven’t been prosecuted but then it’s Pakistan…. enough said!”

A third said: “Even tough transgenders aren’t entirely safe anywhere in Pakistan but KP is especially hell. Police won’t pay any attention to their complaints unless they pay a heavy bribe.”

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