Afghan Women Protest American Kidnapping

[babylonsister]

Afghan Women Protest American Kidnapping
by Noor Khan



About 500 Afghan women gathered in a rare mass protest Tuesday against the kidnapping of an American aid worker. The women, many wearing burqas, called on officials to find the captive American and urged the kidnappers to release her.



Officials said they still had not identified any suspects in the kidnapping of Cyd Mizell and her Afghan driver, Abdul Hadi. Gunmen abducted the two Saturday in a residential neighborhood of the southern city of Kandahar.

The demonstration by so many Afghan women in the conservative southern province of Kandahar was a rare display of women’s wishes. The 90-minute meeting was filled with prayers and speeches calling on government leaders to act.

Rona Tareen, director of the Kandahar Women’s Association, urged Mizell’s captives to free her immediately, saying she had helped Kandahar’s women with small business projects.

“She was here helping the woman in Kandahar. She was trying to get their embroidery outside of the country,” Tareen told the 500 to 600 women - many wearing the all-encompassing burqa - who gathered in a Kandahar wedding hall. The crowd estimate came from participants in the rally and an Associated Press journalist.

“Her kidnapping is against our culture and tradition,” Tareen said. “We demand that the kidnappers free her immediately.”

Another woman, Bibi Nanai, said she received permission from her husband to join the protest.

“I came from my home to show my support,” Nanai said. “We are very upset.”

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/01/29/6689/

[jasmine621]

1. Great! It's time for women to unite across the globe. Take the world back.

Oh, not "back." I mean take the world. the men have messed it up for centuries. Give REAL CHANGE a chance.

[babylonsister]

2. This is even more incredible given how these women could be

punished for taking a stand. I wish they had any expectation of 'real change' for themselves.

[iamthebandfanman]

3. great news!

now if the rest of them would just stand up for themselves and for humanity...