Mukhtaran Mai is a name familiar to most Pakistanis. In 2002, she was raped by 4 men from a rival tribe as per the decision of local elders in a tribal jirga. The story of the jirga decision is a fascinating tale itself in how our judicial and extra-judicial systems sometimes work in rural Pakistan.
While many women quietly suffer an ill fate at the hands of such tribal decisions, and sometimes committ suicide from the ‘shame’, Mukhtaran Mai fought back. Her prepetrators of the crime were tried in the anti-terrorism courts and death sentences were handed down to the guilty. Since then, the judicial process has taken the case back and forth and most recently the Supreme Court has decided in her favor.
Mukhtaran Mai has become a symbol of resistance and hope for women in Pakistan, and all over the muslim world. In addition to fighting the case in courts, she has become a movement for bringing education to her village, and attention to the broader issue of women’s rights in Pakistan. She buillt the first two schools in her local village of Meerwala, in Southern Punjab and now campaigns internationally.
But now one can read a weekly blog by Mukhataran Mai, her own own internet diary about her life, her village, and the work she is doing internationally to promote women’s causes. Her blog is in urdu and is hosted by the BBC Urdu service. Since Mukhataran cannot read or write, she tells her stories to a local BBC journalist, who types it up as a web diary.
About her blog, she says:
“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.
“I sometimes talk about my childhood memories – events that take place at my schools; or perhaps just about the household chores.”
“I don’t think that the people in our village know what it’s all about and what I am writing. But I’ve received a few e-mails from other places – people who have reading my blog on line and who encourage me to continue.”
Mukhataran Mai’s presence on the web, in the form of a blog, is a wonderful reminder of how digital access can open doors for a better communication between people lwho otherwise may never meet each other. Mukhataran’s audience is global, and while most support her cause, not all people agree with the path she has chosen; some may not even sympathize with her. But at least a healthy discussion is happening where a village woman can be a party to share her thoughts and opinions. Even about the naysayers, she says:
“It’s their kindness that they read the material. I am grateful to them. They encourage me to continue in my work in the village, and for women everywhere in Pakistan.”
Danny I agree with you, the whole system needs to be changed. The police force, the judiciary and to be very clear people need to be educated. Majority of our people are so gullible and innocent that one leader give them promises and they vote for him and nothing happened and then in the second term the same leader do the same thing and they vote for him again. That village where the incident happened should have a police station and if there was one available it shouldnt been 9 days after the report was made. They should have arrested the culprits right away if the police system was JUST and immediate DNA testing should have been done. The system needs to be more scientific and more precise. If the system is fast and reliable then no one can say that it was all made up or someone made a false accusation. I hope that politicians in pakistan should do something about it.
Samdani, Honor killings in Pakhtunwali are known as Tor. The concept is a little different though. Tor usually implies that both man and woman are guilty of something that they should not have done. Honor killings in other parts of the country are done on mere suspicion, although, these types of honor killings are sometimes found on the frontier, they are not sanctioned by Pakhtunwali, and hence, illegal. I agree with you, Pakistanis, hailing from any province need to learn how to respect their fellow human beings. But this requires education on a very vast scale, and different from how it is practiced in the rest of the world. In the mean time, there is such a thing as social “balance,” and while we can look at other countries and say “wow, look what they did” most of those methods do not apply to Pakistan. When the social balance becomes upset, it needs to be restored. The people living in the area now called Pakistan have been ruled by the rod for the past few millenia (even before Islam). For them to develop the character to make correct social/political decisions they need to be educated, but that education must filter through at least 3 generations before it can take effect. Immediate results can be obtained through force. Perhaps that one small region in Multan where most of the rapes in Pakistan are taking place can be used as a test subject? The police, following the structure that the British left is ineffectual. In fact, in each Muslim colony that the British had, they purposely created a corrupt police force at the lower levels. It was easier for them to control through payments. So Pakistan now has to take a giant step backwards in order to make a leap forward. The entire police force can be remodelled but in the mean time, control needs to be transferred to the only remaining disciplined institution. Personally, i think a police force ordered along the lines of the Turkish police would be better for Pakistan in which the police would be trained like soldiers and trained to operate in urban/rural environments, coming directly under the army chief.
Dear Rafiq
There is no need to be rude and emotional. If a prophet of God ( Hazrat Yousuf)can be accused falsely of trying to rape by a women who wanted something then it can happen to anyone. As I mentioned earlier that its just a thought not my verdict. Every thing is possible in this world. I am not accusing Mai for anything as i said earler that those rapsits should be punished severely becuase that is a inhumane act they commit. You can call me disgusting or whatever your mind tells you but if you think that those women nowadays who are taking their clothes off on stage and making mujra cd’s are doing it for SOCIAL SERVICE or in the name of ART then you need to go and smell the coffee my dear because you are sleeping in the night of ignorance. it is ok for you to bring my mother and sister in the comment because you have the authority of judging me and my thoughts by Allah but I can’t bring a thought into words and express myself even thought i said that its only a POSSIBLITY. I am a man and i believe in women’s freedom and i wholeheartedly reject a man owning a woman and treating her like a slave but that doesnt change the fact that what i said earlier about my thought CAN HAPPEN
Passion, what a disgusting comment. You say you are not accusing Mukhtaran Mai, and then you do exactly that.
You really think that a woman would go through this trauma just to ‘get even’. The problem with Pakistanis is not just the chaudhry and wadera elements you mention, it is the type of attitude your email shows which considers the poor, and especially poor women, to be so inhuman that you can even imagine such a thouoght, to imagine that they would lie on something like this for a little monetary gain… and what is this monetary gain you all talk about. Has she become rich? Is she setting up factories? What?
I do not know if you are man or woman, if you are a woman can you even imagine yourself going around telling people you were raped when you were not? If you are a man can you imagine a woman you love who is close to you to do that? If your answer is yes you would, then I pity you. If it is no, then how dare you assume that you or women that are close to your, your mother, your sister, would never think of doing so but this poor woman would. I am thoroughly disgusted.
What would you do to become an ICON… how much monetary gain woudl you need to go around telling people you have been lynched (if you are a man) or raped (if you are a woman)?
I wonder if it was a real rape or just a revenge for her brother. I totaly condemn this and rapists should be punished severly because its an act against humanity but in Pakistan like where there is definately a problem in the society with these chaudry and wadera elements present we also have to see that with this kind of publicty and monetry aid coming in some people can make it a business too. I am not saying that Mai is a liar, its nothing but just a thought and I apologize if i am hurting anyones feelings here but still in a society where people can sell their kids for money and even kill their kids due to poverty isnt it possible that ” some ” women can accuse men of rape to be an ICON and due to monetry gain associated to it.