Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : It is sad but true. In USA women were given right to vote When? and when after the got their independence? Bring change is a slow process. It comes through education, through openness of society and various other civil liberties. 50 years are not enough - More time is needed I believe but this does not mean that one should sit and wait for the change NO - it is our collective responsibility to look for the ways to speed up the process of change.
Shoba Srinivasan comments : I don't know whether imposing a ban on Pakistan-in terms of aid-will awaken the human mind and heart towards atrocities like this. Different forms of such humiliation and violation against women exist in many parts of South East Asia and Africa as well. In fact, ganging up against an individual shows collective power-like herds of animals.
I think we should use this same philosophy of "ganging up together" to fight against negative social elements. May be that's how renegades are born.
Education is the key word, and it may not see improvement and awareness in leaps and bounds, but it is a start.
I have often wondered why one leaves their native country...and that we are able to leave because we have the ways and means to do so. A majority of whoever is left behind are the ones who don't have such means, and therein starts our first step towards 'education'.
None of us can do anything about politicians and their misplaced (or totally absent) social duties. What we can do though, is to enhance the education level of women and start cultivating awareness amongst young children.
Do not forget that Asia was the seat of culture and civilization once upon a time, and it is in our hands- both men and women to make things better. A collective voice will be heard louder than a single voice...
Best Regards, Shoba
Saeed comments : What is a country without its people? If majority of the good ones go and and more "bad" ones are left behind, then unfortunately the balance of people will shift towards the bad ones and that will show up in statistics...but suffice to say that it happens in many places if one really wants to know, and I believe these things are highlighted more in Pakistan because of the nature of the act contradicting its societal norms, and because right now, there is a lot of strategic interest in looking at Pakistan. Having said that, its not conceivable that such an act should occur in the first place in a Muslim environment, but since it can occur, the punishment is really a deterring one - stoning to death of all the perpetrators - and let the others be educated about this.
Razia comments : Although violence against women happens all around the world but it is worse in Islamic countries. In Pakistan it is the worst having reached alarming number which exceeds all other Islamic countries combined. Under the guise of Islam Hudood ordinance is used against women to legitimize heinous crimes against women.
There is a kind of apathy when it comes to women. Here, in the US I have been trying to speak about it in the mosques or other Muslim gatherings for last five years. As soon as I bring up the subject people get hostile and paranoid as if it is enemy of Islam's propaganda. We need to let the authorities know that the world is watching and we don't like what is happening to women there. Please sign the online petition to President Musharraf of Pakistan:
I don't know how to embed the link please copy the above url and paste on Google to get to the petition.
Thank you.
http://womenforhumanity.org
Sanjeev comments : The level of enlightenment of a society is known by the status of its women. The entire Aouth Asian region has long ways to go in this regard. At a very practical level, education and economic freedom for the women of a society can help mitigate these issues to a large extent. However, for such changes to take place in impovrished, tradition bound and corrupt societies like ours will take generations. On an individual level each one of us can make a difference by sponsoring the education of one female child and providing access to jobs to one woman in South Asia. Can we do it?
Shoba Srinivasan comments : Dear Razia, Thank you for that link, and I've signed the petition. It's the first step, and I'm sure we'll be heard.
I got a confirmation stating that my "signature" has been accepted, and that if I wished to circulate the petition, I could do so. I hope readers on SAWF will start their own small chains so that our collective voices will be heard.
May I suggest that we look upon these heinous crimes as crimes committed towards women, without the religious factor. Believe you me, religion as much as it is a binding factor for communities, is also a deterrent...It would be advisable to spread messages at "neutral" places instead of places of worship.
I wish you all the very best and please let us know if we could collectively do more...
Best Regards, Shoba
Zahra comments : I thought of posting the comments of one dear friend and uncle on this forum. ---------- Dear Zahra: You seem to have become a featured author on SAWF:-). Your angst at the rape incident is understandable but not your outburst at the Maulvis, although they are not my favourite types either. I don't know if you are aware that incidents of this type go unreported all the time in Southern Panjab and this one got reported only because a conscientious maulvi spoke against it during his Friday Khutba and was picked up from there by a reporter and the international press. And next time, could you find something uplifting to write about the country I know you love so much! Nand
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Razia Jee I believe this is the right approach. Thanks God you were trying to bring this issue up in US where show their verbal disagreement. Best regards
Zahra comments : Another friend commented: ----- Good article but PLEASE make sure that you don't come across (in your writings) as if your are putting down Pakistan. Every country has problems - including the country we are living in right now!
Zahra comments : Dear concerned friends, silent readers and vocal critics: Howdy!!! I read everyone's perspectives and would like to summarize my thoughts in a few paras.
I am very active in various cultural and professional networks and get to see and read between the lines. I am part of those networks for they are part of my identity. The Pakistan I grew up never had what I read in the media. Probably, in those impressionable years(teens), I never comprehended the barriers that existed for women. I always had my rights in my hand and was brought up in a completely different environment from what I get to read. I am the by product of the same soil where I hear that women are being violated and mistreated. Every time, I read something of that nature, I imagine myself coaching the panchayuts and making them understand the nuances of unique individuals. So, the josh and valvala is there. Yes, this review is very harsh on certain instances but addresses what I felt after I read all the links. Had I not reacted the way I did, I think there should have been more uproar. Probably, I was dead inside or cared less.
My intent was never to put down my land of birth. But I did want to clearly state what's wrong in our model. I have been to enough meetings, gatherings, sessions, networking events, talked to bureaucrats in family and friends that made me come up with what I suggested.
When the West is pushing Pakistan to patch up with its neigbors and cut down on other ends, the same efforts should be enforced when it comes to women's rights. When you are asking two countries not to initiate a war for various reasons -- one of them being loss of human lives; why ignore women? Why be aloof on that end? My ending suggestion was mere sarcasm towards our priorities. Ironically, we do not have any priorities and the ones that are considered priorities are pure joke and rubbish! By saying the above, I do not mean to put down my country. I want to make us realize that we need to re-route our focus. A country is from its people. When the people are not protected and respected, that country becomes a jungle and is no longer a secure place for civil beings.
Have I lost hope? No.
I have full faith in the youth and age of my country. But I desire and envision a better infrastructure that serves as a model for other countries.
Inshallah, I plan on contributing to create and nurture that model as long as I live. That's my promise to myself.
That's it.
Thanks for reading through the excruciating details of the article. I am not a writer. I am a thinker and it's a special moment that something occurs to me. After that, it's gone. I have to write in the heat of the moment. Rest does not matter :)
Faiza Sheikh comments : I agree with Shoba that education is the key to change. Not only is secular education important but Islamic education is of dire need. Women have been given a number of rights that they are not aware of. When a woman is divorced a man is commanded to depart in kindness and even give her a gift if he can afford.
Razia comments : Zahra and commentators, Thank you all for your comments and signing the petition. Please continue to spread the word. Since I posted the link here there has been a sharp increase in the number signatures on the petition, from 92 to 127 as of now.I would like to know what you think may be the number of names for Musharraf to feel the impact and what should be the time frame. Your thoughts please
Yes we need to educate and empower women. But how? Do you think one can help women better from abroad or by being in the country?
It's difficult to assess who's better for the job of educating women. Those settled abroad might have the advantage of seeing things from an added dimension but at the same time by not "living thro" with situations happening back home, some of the suggestions might come out too idealistic. Women back home see for themselves what is happening and the result of their reaching out to others in the same community/society will have far better results.
I feel that it should be a collective effort, wherein our "foreign sisters" continue to be involved in projects like this, with the help of "desi sisters" actually executing the plans. Start with small groups of 8-10 women and later on train them to be able to head small groups of their own. Too many leaders trying to reform a large community would be just dispersing energy and talent wastefully, instead of conserving and focussing them...Uplifting a woman's status in society will be complete only when there's support from men as well. I feel that educating male & female tiny tots from young, about respecting each other's genders is essential too...
You have seen for yourself the immediate results of posting the relevant links on a forum like this. Like wise, the world out there need to know that "you exist". A whole load of people are willing to help with advice, moral support etc., and all it takes is for you to request for assistance. You'll be amazed at the amount of good will.
it is heart warming to get encouragement and support from desi people. I get absolutely no support from the local Pakistani or Muslim community. WFH exists as an organization only because of American women's support.
I deeply appreciate your comments and ideas. If it is ok I'll continue to seek your suggestions on various issues.
For the next two years and three months I am going to be in Tanzania as a Peace Corps volunteer. I plan to continue to work for women in whatever way I can. I think like any place in the world women are mistreated there too. Any ideas?
Others too, please feel free to express your thoughts.
I like both the Es. Somehow education by itself does not attract me from any angle. You need to have opportunities for women to be able to apply what they gathered from that education. If they are not any opportunities, then they will very soon stand nowhere.
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Razia Jee: I personally do not think that signed petition will help change the law as you know that people sign sometimes without knowing what they are signing. I think you have to go a bit further than that. The law itself has to be reviewed, analyzed and commented on media and related forums. This approach will add a value to your effort.
Thank you for your comments. You are probably right that petition may not help much to change the law but it does raise awareness to the abuses that go on. But you'll be surprised things can add up. We are adding to the voices already raised against this law.
When I joined Amnesty International several years ago I was so unimpressed by their writing letters to different governments regarding human rights violations. But over the course of years I have seen how thousands of letters and petitions around from the world have brought positive results. Online petitions cost very little but have a big potential. When different groups send emails and printed copies with thousands of signatures the concerned parties will listen. I have also sent emails to the president and all Pakistani ambassadors. In addition I have sent their e-mail addresses to my email list. It is up to each individual to do what they can to spread the word. Regarding Hudood ordinance, it is already being reviewed reanalyzed. But I don't hold much hope any thing will come out of that. The best thing in my opinion is its repeal.
Thank you for listening. razia
Zahra comments : Razia: I suggest that you consult a few ladies on this forum regarding how to make your team more effective. In order to do so, I would strongly suggest talking to a few Indian ladies who have been doing something similar. I just read an article on Dalit Women being the Punchayut Leaders. Please read the article by Tarannum on the first page.
Ironically, Pakistani Women as a community are not well put together to create a change. Many of us on our own and with different affiliations have been doing great stuff. But that's not enough to create a change in the big picture. That's is good for 1, 2, 3, or 100 at the most. Sadly enough, our population is way bigger than that.
Here is my thinking. After I come back from Tanzania I'll spend some time in Pakistan testing waters, so to speak. Two of my sisters are planning to open a new school in WAPDA colony which is very close to Imran hospital. I may be able to persuade them to make some space available for men and women in exchange for their access to whatever we have in terms of books, computers etc. I know you are very resourceful and know many peolpe and organizations who might be able to help in whatever capacity. Depending on our success there we could use that as a model for other countries less developed countrie, Africa, for example. I 'd love to go to India, but I think they already have many organization doing wonderful things for their communities. They don't need me but I could learn from them.
I have to share my perspective in detail on how you can leverage the thoughts and ideas from the Indians. I will come back to it later.
I would also mention Bangladeshis as I have heard that this country is reported in various world bank reports as one of the most successful country in terms of various development and social programs that got started at the village level. Please checkout WorldBank's website.
Also, congratulations on the effort your sisters are putting together. After being involved in various efforts myself, I am more into initiating something very well thought out and well put together. I guess that is probably due to my professional background which believes in starting a concept, nurturing it with all the resources and efforts and then bringing it to a successful completion. Somehow, business world has certain components that can be and are applicable to all the humanistic as well as philanthropistic(if there is a word) efforts; but there is much more to that. A project in the aforementioned does not finish because it has reached a certain stage or level, it's ongoing and has to be repeatable. The last point is the real challenge.
Please make sure that you wait for my next post. Do not take the next train to India. I have to explain to you what I meant and I think you mistook. Just wait for me for a few more days, please :)
Moizullah Tariq Malik comments : Razia Jee: I am sure the law has been analyzed and reanalyzed by you and other groups. What i meant was that in shape of articles the analysis shoud appear on well circulated western newspapers and magazines. This will be create a pressure beside what you are doing and what is being done for this purpose. Anyway thanks for your response and my regards to all the good work you are doing - God bless you.
Razia comments : Zahra Dear, I don't know what you are talking about. What did I mistake?
I meant to comment on Tarannum's article that I have seen news items about villages India and also in Bangla Desh where women are very active in politics. Come to think of it one of my aunts is an elected official of some sort in Samundari, a small town in the District of Faisal Abad. Unfortunately she promotes a very conservative view but still she speaks out against violence perpetrated against women.
There have been many articles and news feature about Dr. Yunus, now an international figure, who started giving small loans to women in Bangla Desh that has evolved into Grameen (sp) bank, micro loan bank. Just recently students of Bradley University here had a fund raiser for the women of BD. It is changing lives of women there.
In Pakistan one of the NGO started a projects where they give a cow to a family on the condition that the family gives a calf to another needy family. We need lot more programs like that at the same time educate people.
I read on one of the forums that Musharraf had dedicated $100 M for education. Let's see what happens? In the mean time let's keep doing what we can.
