Afghan Women's Struggle Against Fundamentalism
Meena (1956-1987) - RAWA's martyred founderBeing an ardent advocate of peace, I have been struggling with trying to understand the reason for our troops being in Afghanistan, making some sense out of a complex situation, and also wanting to hear more voices from the real people of Afghanistan. Following a few links on a wonderful site called Global Survival (by a Canadian woman), I came across the website of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). "RAWA is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan since 1977".
On this site, I just read an article about the Western press coverage of Abdul Rahman, and the lack of that same press to cover anything about the less sensational -- but much larger -- issue of the long, ongoing struggle of other groups in Afghanistan, including RAWA.
Here is an excerpt from this RAWA entry:
"Defense of Abdul Rahman Misses the Mark!
By Mehmooda (an activist of RAWA), March 26, 2006
When Abdul Rahman, an Afghan Christian convert was arrested in Kabul, the U.S. and many other governments in the West seemed to wake up! Suddenly over this one man, there was an overwhelming --even global-- response to the fundamentalist Chief Justice Mullah Fazal Hadi Shinwari and the other mullahs surrounding him. Suddenly, all eyes in the Western World focused on single freedom while we are fighting for so much more. There are many others in our country that are not as “lucky” as Rahman to generate such global interest.
Similar to what other media have done, the Christian Science Monitor published an article about Rahman. It was written by Tony Perkins on March 24, 2006. Since it appears to us to reflect aspirations and view points of the many in the West, I would like to take this opportunity to comment on this article."
....
Further on in her article, Mehmooda writes:
"We are sure Abdullah Rahman will soon be released unharmed. However this “thaw” will never make a summer. Such facades of the US and its Afghan puppets will be repeated again and again while the sufferings of our people will go on and on…"
And she ends with this impassioned, heart-rending plea:
"Is this democracy? Is this the way freedom will gain a “foothold”?
Hearing the cry of tens of thousands murdered residents of Kabul, no freedom-loving women or men should trust their killers.
Do you hear their cry?"
Read full article here.
Revolutionary Assocation of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
Photos of injured women and children
RAWA Photo Gallery " CAUTION: This page contains links to photos which some viewers may find disturbing..."
To read more about the plight of women in Afghanistan today, please read Leonard Jordaan's compelling, impressive post on his LEAPING RABBIT site: "Two women are counted as equal to one man... Sima Samar & the 'new' Afghanistan"
posted by Annamarie at
7:48 PM
3 comment(s):
I'd also been looking around the RAWA site and found this article: it should be required reading for such advocates of the war as Terry Glavin (and the many other left bloggers)- I single him out because I find him to be so condescendingly sure of his absolute correctness.
By
Lept, at
9:10 AM
Thanks for the link. I just read that amazing article. Indeed, we should be listening more to people who actually live there and know the misery of their existence and the sham elections which were so hyped-up by Bushco, MSM, et al... Listening merely to a few expats does not a clear picture make.
best,
amd
By
Annamarie, at
10:43 PM
Keep up the good work
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By
Anonymous, at
10:54 AM
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