A Courageous Woman, A Courageous People/Mukhtara Mai in NY

Asif2000 · November 3, 2005, 6:38pm

Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

NEW YORK - A Pakistani activist who was gang-raped at the orders of a tribal council was honored by Glamour Magazine as Woman of the Year for her fight against oppression in her homeland. Mukhtar Mai braved social stigma by going public with her 2002 assault, and used the international attention she attracted to set up a girls school in her rural community…

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Pakora · November 3, 2005, 7:56pm

Re: Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

I was going to say something really silly and despicable like “* I wish I was raped too *” But I wont say it at this festive time of EID.

Asif2000 · November 3, 2005, 8:04pm

Re: Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

and I won’t say a lot of things in response because its the last roza.

Pakora · November 3, 2005, 8:07pm

Re: Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

Thanks :)

shweetdreamz · November 3, 2005, 8:24pm

Re: Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

its ok buddy peroni beer pee ker silly batein kerna is ok atleast on eid…

and we cant wait to reply to it with "i wish u WERE raped by 5-6 men too "

Rukhsarbibi · November 3, 2005, 9:43pm

Re: Pakistani Rape Victim Gets Honor in U.S.

I believe she is donating some money to the earthquake victims as well. I caught it on geo for about 5 seconds.

system · November 7, 2005, 2:40am

A Courageous Woman, A Courageous People/Mukhtara Mai in NY

Asian American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights (ANAA) and The

Amnesty International USA NYC Women's Human Rights Action Team with
theAsia Society, Sakhi for South Asian Women and Cooper Union are
honoredto present:

A Courageous Woman, A Courageous People: Mukhtar Mai Speaks Out to
HelpHer Nation

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, from 10 am to 12 noon
The Great Hall at Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street (at Third Avenue) Manhattan.
Subways: 6 to Astor Place; N/R to East 8th Street
$5 donation requested

Mukhtar Mai is known around the world for her courage in speaking out
about the brutal gang rape she suffered on the order of a Pakistani
tribal jirga. No judge, social taboo, village leader or military
administration could silence her, and her brave quest for justice for
victims of rape and sexual violence has been an inspiration to
women all
over the world. Mukhtar Mai is visiting the United States to meet
thousands of her supporters and to draw attention to the legal, social
and political repression faced by victims of violence in Pakistan.

Shewill also speak on the deplorable conditions faced by women in
Pakistanthat have been made worse by
the devastating earthquake in October.

While in the United States, Mukhtar Mai will be presented Glamour
Magazine?s ?Woman of the Year? award by President Bill Clinton. She
will also urge the United States Congress to uphold their commitment
to women?s rights in Pakistan by pledging an additional 50 million
dollars in humanitarian aid specifically earmarked for the women and
children affected by the earthquake. Please join her on November
5th in
demanding justice and human rights for all.

Sara516 · November 7, 2005, 2:42am

Re: A Courageous Woman, A Courageous People

Hey I went there and I took pix.. visit my thread in image gal 2.. were you there?

shweetdreamz · November 7, 2005, 4:33pm

mukhtaran mai speaks out in NY

I am glad I got to meet Mukhtaran Mai at Cooper Union on Saturday Nov 5th. I also got to meet Sara516 (finally). I know sara already has a thread opened on meeting her but I just wanted to touch upon some aspects of the conference.

The event ended with a long question-answer session in which mukhtaran herself answered the questions asked by those in the audience. The answers/questions were translated into english for those that didnt speak urdu.
The session started off on a bad note with a lady angrily demanding as to "what help does mukhtaran expect from the american public which does not have any sympathy for the thousands of iraqi women being killed. Americans do not give a crap about anyone's rights"

mukhtaran answered this question with a question of her own "In this case, may I ask you what YOU are doing here in the USA?" which drew lots of applause and laughter. What I admired about the woman was her short, no-nonsense answers to every long comment and question. She made it clear that she does not want sympathy but that she wants us to be PROUD of her and her bravery of standing up to a jirga system that went un-questioned for ages.

some points worth mentioning are that three years ago when she was gang-raped, she did not know how to read or write, and there was no school in her village. Also the village was ruled by a panchayat and feudal lords. After the gang-rape she filed for a police report THREE times. The first time the police filed a blank report. The second time an incorrect one. The third time only a correct one was filed. She was even unaware of any human rights/woman's rights organizations existing in Pakistan that would fight for her rights.

Three years later, with the help of women's rights groups, the actions of this brave woman have broken the panchayat system in her village, have made a school for girls and one for boys a reality (with Mukhtaran herself studying at a third grade level) and there has BEEN NO RAPE IN HER VILLAGE ever since!
To answer another question of as to what is being done to change the views of women that hinder other women from reporting rapes and instead tell them to keep it hidden to avoid a family shame, Mukhtaran claimed that education is key. And also that not only girls should be taught their basic rights, but little boys must also be taught from a young age to treat women with respect.

We got to take pictures with the lady in the end and also learned a great deal about the organization "ANAA" which strives to restore not only muslim but also non-muslim women's rights. Their website is 4anaa.org if anyone is interested.

TheRealDeal · November 7, 2005, 4:36pm

Re: mukhtaran mai speaks out in NY

Brave women,doing a lot of good.

A lot of Mushy supporters don't like her to speak and remind people of the state of Pakistan, but she bravely continues to do so, while using any money she gets to selflessly help her people.

Good,brave women. And thank goodness for the good people in the NGO's who helped her

Khehkeshan · November 7, 2005, 4:44pm

Re: mukhtaran mai speaks out in NY

Brave woman, but I fear for her saftey in Pakistan. Many jahil-minded Pakistanis believe she has "dishonoured" Pakistan by speaking against the injustice and may try to harm her. Even on this forum we have some people who feel Mukhtaran Mai has dishonoured them personally. Sick minds who do not know what honour really means.

If it wasn't for NGO's, we would never know who Mukhtaran Mai was and what crimes she had to suffer through.

shweetdreamz · November 7, 2005, 4:46pm

Re: mukhtaran mai speaks out in NY

true!

Blitzkrieg · November 7, 2005, 6:44pm

Re: mukhtaran mai speaks out in NY

Do I see a girls vs. boys divide on this issue ?

shweetdreamz · November 7, 2005, 6:50pm