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| November 3, 2005 | Thursday | Ramzan 29, 1426 |
US lawmakers laud Mukhtaran’s courage and bravery
WASHINGTON, Nov 2: Pakistan should be proud to have a daughter like Mukhtaran Mai who has brought good name to the country through her courage and bravery, said US lawmakers during a Tuesday evening congressional briefing in Washington.
The US State Department agreed. “We are pleased that Mukhtaran Mai has come to the US to tell her story,” said an official statement issued after Mai’s meeting with senior State Department officials. “Her courage has given women everywhere the strength to speak out against injustice and abuse.”
But this was nothing compared to the praise showered on Mai during her visit to Capitol Hill. “Instead of committing suicide out of shame, she decided to fight back and became symbol for all the women struggling for their rights,” declared Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.
“I am humbled and honoured to greet you here. We acknowledge your enormous courage and we are ready to work with you,” said Congresswoman Janice D. Schakowsky, another member of the caucus.
Another congresswoman, Susan David, came out of an official hearing to greet Mai. “It is only because of your courage that women around the world support you today,” she said.
Representatives from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights also joined US lawmakers in praising Mai. “She has brought good name to Pakistan,” said Amnesty’s T. Kumar. “She has proven those wrong who tried to prevent her from visiting the US, fearing that her visit will bring bad name to her country.”
“I am the voice of those Pakistani women who need your help in their struggle for justice,” said Mai in her testimony. And she indeed proved to be a strong voice.
A peasant woman from a remote village in southern Punjab, Mai was introduced at the congressional briefing as a champion of women rights and was compared to the founder of the civil rights movement in the US, Rosa Parks.
“Like Rosa Parks, Mukhtaran Mai turned her ordeal into a campaign against the oppression of women around the world,” said Rep Schakowsky.
“I wonder how you got the courage to do what you did,” asked Rep Lee who is also co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus.
“Instead of allowing my oppressors to achieve their goals, I decided to fight them back,” Mai responded. “The waderas are now trying to harass me. Myself, my friends and my family fear for their lives. But we will not give up this struggle,” she said.
In his testimony, Amnesty’s T. Kumar suggested that Congress should make laws to ensure that countries that allow major violations of women rights, such as the one committed against Mai, do not get US assistance.
He also pointed out that such violence was not unique to Pakistan and happened in other countries as well. “During the same period that Mai was raped, thousands of women were raped in Indian Gujarat only because they were Muslims,” he said. “So far the Indian government has done much to punish those responsible for these rapes.”
ANAA’s Amna Buttar opposed the suggestion of stopping US assistance to the countries that failed to protect women because she said such restrictions would only hurt the poor.
Instead, she suggested reallocating funds for programmes aimed at promoting women rights.
Janet Walsh of Human Rights Watch urged Congress to use its influence on Pakistan for bringing judicial and legal changes.
Usually after a congressional briefing, members of the audience gather around the lawmakers, seeking their comments on various issues. But after the Tuesday evening briefing, lawmakers, as well as others, gathered around Mai, asking her what they could do to help her cause.
Three little children also came to Mai and asked if she would join them for a picture session. The lawmakers also joined the group.
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