She’s been arrested, she’s been freed, she’s been arrested again, she’s been freed again, she’s been denied a passport, she’s been interviewed by Lisa Mullins but couldn’t speak freely–it’s like the government of Pakistan is the drunkest guy at the fucktard’s frat party. Fortunately for confused supporters, Tom Watson has compiled the definitive Mukhtaran Bibi fansite collecting all the latest news and developments. The idea, of course, is to somehow pressure Musharraf into letting Mukhtaran Bibi continue with plans for a US speaking tour. Watson is extremely sanguine about the results that blogger awareness might generate. You go, girl.
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While her history and her fate is very disturbing, there is a point to what the Muslim men Watson quotes are saying. We in the west are appalled at what happened to her, but is coming to the west going to hinder or help? Who is arranging her trip and why? Is she going to stay in the west? We do not know why she wants to come. I may have a feminist tin hat on, but, there is much we do not know and sensationalizing and exploiting is a western trait. There appears to be alot of politics here and sorting it out, is not just a case of black and white. Bad Muslim culture and good western culture. Give me a break. They all are patriarchial.
You are right to question this stuff, since a pure motive is about as rare as an edible peach these days. But from what I can tell, if nothing else Mukhtaran is actually being held in Pakistan with no passport, a situation to which she strenuously objects, according to Punjab/Islamabad English-language newspaper The Nation. There is some doubt as to whether her recent decision “to live in my own country and face all challenges†is genuine; some believe that the Pakistani government forced her to say so at a news conference. And of course, Pervez Musharraf is actually on record as admitting that he ordered the travel ban to keep Mukhtaran from “bad-mouth[ing] Pakistan†abroad.
It does not seem likely that Mukhtaran Mai (this has emerged as the predominant version of her name) is an innocent pawn in some larger political imbroglio. The decision to speak out against violence against women in her country was clearly her own, and I doubt the ANAA, the American-based human rights group that organized her speaking tour, could force her to leave the country if she didn’t want to.
The ANAA, or Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Women, appear to have close ties to Pakistan, and likely want to use Mukhtaran to persuade Congress to increase aid to that country. The sort of aid they are seeking, however, would “assist in funding initiatives focused on the prevention of violence against women in Pakistan,†motives that do not appear to be at odds with Mukhtaran’s. Recall that she is fairly saint-like, having used her victim’s compensation money to open schools in her village. Presumably part of the speaking tour payoff for her would be the inevitable benefit to the schools, aside from the obvious general-improvement-of-living-conditions for Pakistani women.
The Nation (Pakistan) http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/june-2005/15/index12.php
The ANAA http://www.4anaa.org/index.htm
Another Mukhtaran compendium, blog-style http://ko.offroadpakistan.com/pakistan/2004_10/mukhtaran_bibi_sentenced_to_be_raped.html
Sorry. That last blog is here
Thanks for your coherent update. I wanted to get past the ’saint’ perception to the woman. It is not sainthood, but courage.
And thank you for making me get off my lazy butt to delve deeper.
Meanwhile, I’m no Catholic, but a hero is pretty much a secular saint, right?
I don’t want to label what she is, I want to describe what she does. What she does is demonstrate courage in the face of great negative odds. One can label that heroic or saintly, but in doing that it is like dismissing the actual achievement. She is inspiring not because she is heroic, but because she dares to act. She has my greatest admiration. She ain’t no abstract hero.
Well, I’m all for putting a fine point on things; we look to be in total agreement. To quote the late Rick James, that girl’s all right with me!