November 19, 2002
Awakened Woman's Circle is working for peace
A Call for Understanding and Action
A book review of Women for Afghan Women, Shattering Myths and Claiming the Future
Edited by Sunita Mehta, 2002
Reviewed by Diane Schulz
Women for Afghan Women is an important primer for American women who, like myself, feel the need to do something in response to our government's overweening policy of intensive bombing in Afghanistan supposedly intended to bring peace and stability to its people. Despite the frustration of knowing that our government is lying to us about its objectives, the desire to help women re-build their lives after 23 years of constant war and destruction is foremost in my mind as it is for increasing numbers of women. The organization, Women for Afghan Women, was formed in November, 2001, at a conference of women scholars and activists at CUNY, who met to discuss the reconstruction of post-Taliban Afghanistan. Publishing this book of essays of the same name aids WAW in supporting and spreading the word of their activities. (http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org)
In a follow-up conference recently held at Barnard College, New York, Women's E News (http://www.womensenewstoday.org) reported on 11/18/02 that the conference "focused on current conditions, the need for continued humanitarian assistance, as well as vigilance and support for the human rights of Afghan women." Although life is a bit better for women in Kabul since the ousting of Taliban rule, the rest of the country has not seen any significant change. The inclusion of warlords in the present interim government is a sore point with Afghan women. These are the same men who have, and continue to, perpetrate horrible violence against women.
In this collection of essays, more than half by Afghan women, we obtain a much clearer understanding of both the history of Afghanistan's progress on women's rights, beginning in the late 19th century until the Taliban's destruction of those rights in 1995; and the immediate needs of women now. In the Foreword, Sima Wali, President and CEO of Refugee Women in Development, reports on her trip to Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan in 2001. "Most tragically, they feel forgotten and betrayed by the world, especially the United States…their varied accounts can be summarized by a single plea…: 'We are looking for you to amplify our voices, which remain silenced to people of the free world.'" That is exactly what this book does. Again and again, through many voices, the cry for help focuses on the need of physical security, food, medical services and education, not only for women, but also for boys whose only education for many years has been that provided by madressas, extremist Taliban-supported schools that teach hatred and violence, not only against non-Muslims, but against women who do not adhere to their oppression.
Another important issue that many of the Afghan women's essays express is the need for western women to understand the importance of Islam to their lives and culture. Homaira Mamoor, who came to the US with her family at age 10, and is now a New Yorker and mother of three, explains, "If we're going to reach Muslim women, we must do it through education and through their religion. The Muslim women I know are devout…But, because most of them have memorized the Qur'an in Arabic, a language they don't speak or understand,…they don't know what rights they have under Islam. …They don't know that men who oppress women in the name of Islam are really ignorant when it comes to the religion." Homaira goes on to explain that the struggle is against extremism, not tradition, but only if those traditions are just. "It is high time that Muslims reclaim their religion from the hands of extremists, who know only war and hatred and who have no respect for people's dignity and fundamental human rights." Her plea is echoed by Sanaa Nadim, the Muslim chaplain of the interfaith center at the State University of New York, in her essay, "Women and Equality in Islam." She enlightens us regarding the history of Islam, showing how the original revelations to the Prophet Muhammad, much like those to Jesus before Christianity became a religion, expressed the equality of men and women before God. "Although the West can play an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, I do not believe that this means the imposition of alien values on Afghan women. …Afghan women must find their path according to their own spiritual and intellectual vision."
An easily comprehendible collection, Women for Afghan Women is also a comprehensive collection, for it presents a wide range of women's experience, not only Afghan women but Western women who have either lived in Afghanistan in the past or have supported recent efforts in the West to understand and help. Poetry is included, as well as a photographic "essay" of some of the Afghan authors now living and working in New York. Also included is an extensive list of organizations and resources to aid us in helping women in Afghanistan. Along with the many organizations listed, are contact names, emails and websites to visit. In conclusion, I submit a poem from the book by Atia Gaheez, translated from Persian by the author.
Faryad (Scream)
O man
O proud mortal
Leave me alone for a while with my own feelings
Let me out of this cold cage
Let me out of this painful prison
I have many unsaid sayings
I have a world of pain hidden in my heart
If you let me free
I will fly to the farthest skies
To the peak of mountains of light
With the wings of poetry
I will mix my voice with the swallows
And sing with them
And scream to the world
Of unloyal men
That I am a woman
Look toward me, toward us
As human beings.
Contact Women for Afghan Women:
http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/
http://www.sisterfund.org/
http://www.sakhi.org/
Please buy this book and support Women for Afghan Women!