Rape Survivor Families Struggle Against Odds

Not a very flattering picture of Pakistan, but honor killings and rape in rural Pakistan has recently gotten the world’s attention, thank in part to Mukhtaran Mai. Although this article only reports cases of rape, but I hope, it aims to generate discussion on how can our society be free of this menace. Here are a few thoughts:

- all public schools must be mixed, so boys can learn from a young age to view girls as their equal, and not a weaker and defenseless gender
- Same policy for Mosques. Mixed sex prayers. Mixed sex Maddrassas.
- Abolition of Shariah based Laws. Death penalty for rapists
- Legislations to have per capita gender representation in Assemblies (i.e., all political partiers be required to have 50% female candidates – they can work out the details, I can help)

Giving lip service to gender equality will not solve the problem, only the concrete steps taken in the direction of equal opportunity for girls as for boys will crack this terrorism against women. Unless women are treated as equal to men, the violence against them will continue.

Now some idiots will come and tell us the rape rates in the USA and other nonsensical garbage to deflect attention from gender based terrorism in Pakistan.

I think it's time we got over this Mukhtara Mai thing and think about more important matters. Like GIVING PEOPLE AN UN-INTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF BIJLI AND CLEAN WATER!!!

Hitman

testing

Bijli and Clean water are important, yes, but equally important is obtaining human rights and equality for 50% of our population (the women). How can we ever make progress with one hand tied behind our backs?
with much respect,
thinking storm

TS why did you have to dignify that with a response?

Is there a website for WAR? Can people make online donations to it?
with much respect,
thinking storm

I found the site, I wish they had a paypal account or something...

http://www.war.org.pk/donate.html
with much respect,
thinking storm

Good article, Beena.

If I remember correctly, WAR is actually "Women Against Rape".

I stand corrected. "Woman Against Rape (WAR)" (www.womanagainstrape.com) is a different organization from the one mentioned in this piece. In fact, there are several other organizations with similar-sounding names (and missions).

With due respect with the feminist as a lawyer, I witness that a great majority of women accusing men of sexual harassment and adultery (rape) liars and blackmailers.

Beena,

This is the usual pathetic white washing version of article.

As a woman why cant you say teh real and root cause, it is the hoodood and teh requirement to have 4 male witnesses. That is teh root cause, and no one in pakistan will dare to say that.

Hoodood is per the book and that is the only reason why no one dares to change it and no one dares to mention the root cause even on chowk.

Time to stop the pretentions, no need to white wash the image of pakistan, time to tell the truth if you really care to change anything.

Re: # 11
Beena Sarwar was exposing a horrible social, cultural and human problem in Pakistan. It is true it has a religious dimension that has come from the past. I suggest you go to neighboring India and you will notice similar rise in these crimes. Rape in the open and sometimes in the full view of the public is quite common. There are very harsh laws, but still have not been effective. Recntly, a young woman from Britain on the way to Bhubaneshwar in Orissa was dragged from the bus and was raped in front of her father. Other travellers did not do anything. Police did not do anything. What happened to that UK girl who was gang raped and then murderd in Goan beach. Ever read that news?

These dreadful occurences are not the monopoly of Pakistan nor Muslim countries. Strictest enforcing of rule of law is what is needed.

So be a bit more compassionate and undertanding. Religion alone is the cause of all evils. Human society has full of sociuopaths, and psychopaths etc. To overcome this evil, one needs education and punishment too.

You remind odf a cow laughing at other cows saying the one in the front is displaying cow's private part! She forgets other cows can see her own too! So don't be a fanatic putting the blame on Pakistanis or Islam wholesale.

Kamath

Ms. Sarwar.... THanks for penning this report.
I want to convey my respect to you for doing this intesive work so our women will have life. You are doing the job , not easy job in society which is puritan and extremely oppressive towards women and violence is method used to clear the field.The most men of our cities are victim of sex fear and conservative and less content of women on any road leads sex obsession.This sex starvation leading to sex obsession is formula for victimization of women. You also teach by example being assertive of women rights in given situation. I know it is not easy for young women to travel by public transport in Karachi but they are forced to do to survive. I knew from childhood why women cry,they are helpless and suffer all time.Your work helps as word spreads. I normally do not contribute any money as have no surplus but cause is exceptional so I will contribute to organization which helps women.
Thanks , god bless you and help you in your work.

Re: # 12
Kamath,

I agree with you, first there has to be laws, then only one can talk about enforcing them. In -pakistan there are no laws that metes out severe punishmnet, rather it has a law that requires four male witnesses, which implies that no rape perpetrator gets punished. How can one have chnages in laws. well the educated should talk about the need for law changes, in pakistan, the ilks of Beena do not even dare to mention the need for changes in laws. I rest my case. You can guess the why of it.

Kamath,

By teh way do not forget that it was none other than teh western educated paki PM who tried to deal with Condi Rice as a female...then of course the new president pakistan and Sarah Palin. In pakistan education makes absolutely no difference, the core values and attitudes remain the same, in all spheres of life.

Pakistan has produced no role model at all, neither in education nor in teh social field. Let us not talk about what happened to a nobel laurette.

Re: # 14 Jayp... Your point is well taken. You are not wrong.
You know that even most powerful can not do that , Awam will skin you alive.You can advice sitting in India , and have wonderful ideas . I can tell you go in indian jungle and there is tiger who's tooth need to be pulled so infection will go away. You go to help that tiger he will kill you even thogh you are doing favor to him.

Now Ms. Sarwar is doing evolutionally revolution is out of question. There is no wide spread support to women as equals.

Now most most women and men will say I can not do such big thing so point in doing. Other will say what Ms. Sarwar is doing is not going to change much so I will not do that also. Result nothing is done. Do
whatever one can is important and she is doing rather than leaving in dispair. Such things will move only glacially. You can collect browny points as they say.
Similary you say similar thining about Ahemadia sect/ religion etc. Most people in life on street do not believe in this crap. But when it comes to end it is law of land which declares they are not. You tell average man who wants go to Dubai or usa etc passport what he can do.He can not do nothing. Stop scoring browny points. It is not easy to break or attacks laws of land which can get you killed easily. Even most popular BB, powerful general can agree in private they can not do , things are not easy. So stop pontiffication sitting in safety of India.
Good day.