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Pakistan rape victim's blog makes waves

Discussion in 'Health & Wellbeing' started by Lynne, Sep 15, 2006.

  1. Lynne

    Lynne
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    All,

    The Pakistani government has put a controversial women's rights bill on hold to appease the ultra-conservative Islamic parties. Human rights activists branded this decision a disaster for Pakistani women. Rape is dealt with under Islamic laws known as the "Hudood Ordinances" which makes sex a criminal offence outside of marriage and a rape victim must provide four male witnesses to verify the crime or she could face punishment herself.

    The case of rape victim Mukhtaran Mai heightened reform calls.

    Mukhtar Mai was once an anonymous Pakistani villager - but that was before she was gang-raped, apparently on the orders of local elders in a neighbouring village.

    From then onwards she has been determined to bring them to justice, and her fight made her an international figure.
    Some of the men she said attacked her were convicted, but then the appeal court in Lahore overturned their convictions, amid an outcry from human rights groups.


    Now Mukhtar Mai, who is in her mid-30s, is writing her own internet diary, or blog, about her life and her concerns, as a woman from a remote village in southern Punjab.


    'Exceptional'
    Girls in Mukhtar Mai's village have her to thank for their education.

    She established the school and others with compensation money awarded to her by the courts in her rape trial.


    Mukhtar Mai is exceptional because she defied the shame of the gang-rape four years ago by not only bringing her attackers to justice, but also by fighting for a change in traditional attitudes towards women.
    In that role, she hears many of the problems facing the women of her village. And she now contributes a weekly diary or weblog to the internet site of the BBC Urdu Service.


    "Mostly I talk about incidents which are cruel and painful. I try to discuss only the most serious things in my blog: the poor treatment of women, sometimes leading to killing," she says.


    Mukhtar Mai's blog is unique. Although she cannot read or write, she tells her stories to a local BBC journalist, who types it up as a web diary.

    Full story here - on BBC News

    If you understand her language you can read her blog here - there doesn't appear to be an English translation.
     
  2. Tink

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    GRRRrrrr. And what are the chances of FOUR men coming forward to testify on behalf of the woman? IF there were four decent men present, I would like to think that they would have prevented the rape.


     
  3. tjr

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    its terrible woman have no wrights in that country :argue:
     
  4. Starmist

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    Just checked my Koran, the penalty for rape, for the woman, if she accuses a man and cannot provide 4 male witnesses is to be stoned to death. Not a pleasant way to go. Remember in Islam the wives and children are property.
     
  5. tjr

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    its such a shame it must be horrible living there makes me sad to think of all the poor woman what a way to live:frown:
     
  6. Trishee

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  7. Starmist

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    Growl!!!!!!
     
  8. jeni26uk

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    My god glad we dont have laws like that over here !!!!!
     
  9. Lynne

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    No kidding!!
     
  10. Starmist

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    Muslims are becoming more frequent in the UK!
     
  11. Lynne

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    We have many Muslims here in all walks of life including the police force and Members of Parliament and all the Muslims I've met have been really nice people. I think the law that was being called on here was a very old law and those calling for it to be used were extremists. I don't think the majority of Muslim people would want that law enforced and they certainly wouldn't be able to enforce it over here.
     
  12. Trishee

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    Just a side note... While the Koran does not directly mention specific punishment for rape, it does have verses that not only prohibit it, but in fact speaks of providing protection for victims of sexual violence.

    Think this is another case where 'God's Word' is distorted to fit the discrepancies of the masses. It is sad how beautiful a religion can be in theory, and how ugly we as mankind can make it in practice.