This is an actual petition, and "signatures" will be lost if you drop the
line. I know this is too true and so dreadful. Please take 3 minutes out
of
your life to do your part.
The government of Afghanistan, is waging a war upon women. Since the
Taliban took power in 1996, women have had to wear burqua and have been
beaten and
stoned in public for not having the proper attire, even if this means
simply not having the mesh covering in front of their eyes. One woman was
beaten to
death by an angry mob of fundamentalists for accidentally exposing her
arm(!) . Another was stoned to death for trying to leave the
country with a man that was not a relative.

Women are not allowed to work or even go out in public without a male
relative; professional women such as professors, translators, doctors,
lawyers, artists and writers have been forced from their jobs and
restricted
to their homes. Homes where a woman is present must have their windows
painted so that she can never be seen by outsiders. They must wear silent
shoes so that they are never heard. Women live in fear of their lives for
the slightest misbehavior.

Because they cannot work, those without male relatives or husbands are
either starving to death or begging the street, even if they hold Ph.D.s.
Depression is becoming so widespread that it has reached emergency levels.
There is no way in such an extreme Islamic society to know the suicide
rate
with certainty, but relief workers are estimating that the suicide rate
among women must be extraordinarily high: those who cannot find proper
medication
and treatment for severe depression and would rather take their lives than
live in such conditions.

At one of the rare hospitals for women, a reporter found still, nearly
lifeless bodies lying motionless on top of beds, wrapped in their burqua,
unwilling to speak, eat, or do anything, but slowly wasting away. Others
have gone mad and were seen crouched in corners, perpetually rocking or
crying,
most of them in fear. When what little medication that is left finally
runs
out, one doctor is considering leaving these women in front of the
president's residence as a form of protest.

It is at the point where the term "human rights violations" has become an
understatement. Husbands have the power of life and death over their women
relatives, epecially their wives, but an angry mob has just as much right
to
stone or beat a woman, often to death, for exposing an inch of flesh or
offending them in the slightest way.

Women enjoyed relative freedom: to work, to dress generally as they
wanted,
and to drive and appear in public alone until only 1996. The rapidity of
this transition is the main reason for the depression and suicide; Women
who
were once educators or doctors or simply used to basic human freedoms are
now severely restricted and treated as subhuman in the name of right-wing
fundamentalist Islam. It is not their tradition or 'culture,' but it is
alien to them, and it is extreme even for those cultures where
fundamentalism is
the rule.

Everyone has a right to a tolerable human existence, even if they are
women
in a Muslim country. If we can threaten military force in Kosovo the in
name of human rights for
the sake of ethnic Albanians, citizens of the world can certainly express
peaceful outrage at the oppression, murder and injustice committed against
women by the Taliban.

STATEMENT: In signing this, we agree that the current treatment of women
in Afghanistan is completely UNACCEPTABLE and deserves action by the
United
Nations and that the current situation overseas will not be tolerated.
Women's Rights is not a small issue anywhere, and it is UNACCEPTABLE for
women in 2001 to be treated as subhuman and as so much property. Equality
and human decency is a fundamental RIGHT, not a freedom to be granted,
whether
one lives in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Please scroll to the end of this list to sign your name. Read the brief
instruction below the names.

1) Giuliana D. Black, Daly City,CA,USA
2) Mariam Nayiny, Palo Alto,CA,USA
3) Sunaina Gulati-Ruh, Palo Alto,CA,USA
4) Megan McCaslin, Palo Alto,CA,USA >
5) Blake Hallanan, San Francisco,CA,USA >
6) Kit Henderson, Sacramento,CA,USA >
7) Sara Myers, San Francisco,CA,USA >
8) Ellen Tilden, San Fransisco,CA,USA >
9) Vanessa Ross, San Francisco,CA,USA >
10) Jenna Shaw- Battista, San Francisco,CA,USA >
11) Jeanne Racik, Berkeley,CA,USA >
12) Julie Silas, Oakland,CA,USA >
13) Renee Longstreet, Tarzana,CA,USA >
14) Susan Johnson, Encino,CA,USA >
15) Kenneth Johnson, Encino,CA,USA >
16) Terri Treas, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
17) Amy Retzinger, North Hollywood,CA,USA >
18) Babette Crooms, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
19) Olivia Kienzel; Santa Barbara,CA,USA >
20) Sean Dexheimer, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
21) Elio Chavez, Jr., Pasadena,CA,USA >
22) Gregory Kastigar, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
23) Robert Collie, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
24) Jeff Garvin, Brea,CA,USA >
25) Tricia Allen, Sherman Oaks,CA,USA >
26) Joleen Nordstrom, Hollywood,CA,USA >
27) Theresa Donahoe, Martinez,CA,USA >
28) Jennifer Horn, Concord,CA,USA >
29) Roxanne Ryan, Alamo,CA,USA >
30) Miriam Tyler, San Jose,CA,USA >
31) John Burns, San Jose,CA,USA >
32) Kristin Lynn Minick, Fort Worth,TX,USA >
33) Jeff Neal, Marietta,GA,USA >
34) Anna Neal, Marietta, GA,USA >
35) Frances Murley-Fort Worth,TX,USA >
36) David Murley-London,England,UNITED KINGDOM >
37) Jillian Dykhouse, Colleyville,TX,USA >
38) Bonnie Dykhouse,Colleyville,TX,USA >
39) Nancy Williams, Colleyville,TX,USA >
40) Georgene Farr, Sterling Heights,MI,USA >
41) Joanne Arensberg, Riverview,MI,USA >
42) Luann Ouellette, Vermillion,SD,USA >
43) Sandie Sullivan, Vermillion,SD,USA >
44) Troy Nelson, Minneapolis,MN,USA >
45) Joseph Miller, Minnepolis,MN,USA >
46) Kathleen Miller, White Bear Lake,MN,USA >
47) Jerry Marquis, Mpls.,MN,USA >
48) Julie Stokes, Coon Rapids,MN ,USA >
49) Tracy Ford, Blaine,MN,USA >
50) Sheila Lawrence, Monticello,MN,USA >
51) Brenda Kitchen, Westlake Village,CA,USA >
52) Teresa Burke, Sherman Oaks,CA,USA >
53) Bruce Ehrlich, Sherman Oaks,CA,USA
54) Yllania Francis, Los Angeles,CA,USA >
55) Drew Hedin, Los Angeles,CA,USA
56) Laura Paridon, Laguna Woods,CA,USA >
57) Jeanie Hagedorn, Des Moines,IA,USA >
58) Sue Christensen, Des Moines,IA,USA
59) Sybil Finken, Glenwood,IA,USA >
60) Luke Finken, Earth >
61) Doug Gerace, Lincoln,NE,USA >
62) Cheryl Gerace,NE,USA >
63) Sheri Lew,CO,USA >
64) Raven Grace,Boulder,CO,USA >
65) Martha M.Mertz,EL,MI,USA >
66) Colleen R. Cooper,Okemos,MI,USA >
67) Barbara J. Sawyer-Koch, East Lansing,MI,USA
68) Margaret A. Meyers, Okemos,MI,USA >
69) Mary Helen Espes, Okemos,MI,USA
70) Maureen Kirchhoff, Allenspark,CO,USA >
71) Bart Johnson, Err, FRANCE >
72) Sharon O'Connor, Olympia,WA,USA >
73) Nancy Irving, Tbilisi, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA >
74) Martha Lindley, Seattle,WA,USA >
75) Judith Alexander, Woodinville,WA,USA >
76) Arlene B. Hawkinson, Seattle,WA,USA >
77) Christine E. Mobley, Bothell,WA,USA >
78) Trudie Breen,CA,USA >
79) Catherine Standiford,CA,USA >
80) Beverly Truett,AZ,USA >
81) Christine Meehan,AZ,USA >
82) Janice Gilbert, Valley Center,CA,USA >
83) Dawna Upchurch, Anchorage,AK,USA >
84) Roxanna Groves, Olympia,WA,USA
85) Lynda Lynde, Helena,MT,USA >
86) Constance Gelu, University Place,WA,USA >
87) Jodi Woolett, Tacoma,WA,USA >
88) Lisa I. Reeves- Lynden,WA,USA >
89) Amanda James-Bow,WA,USA >
90) Kelli J. Smith, New Port Richey,FL,USA >
91) Chris Poirier, Largo,FL,USA >
92) Mike Carpenter, Palmetto,FL,USA >
93) Alice Pryor, Melbourne,FL,USA >
94) Ellen Catano, Manchester,NH,USA
95) Bevely Jennings, Cincinnati,OH,USA >
96) Linda Feely, Norwood,OH,USA >
97) Sherry Stidham, Norwood,OH,USA >
98) Brittany Brown, Cincinnati,OH,USA
99) Sandy Brown, Cincinna ti,OH,USA >
100) Tim Brown, Cincinnati,OH,USA
101) Pat Brown, Cincinnati,OH,USA >
102) Amy Cregger, Memphis,TN,USA >
103) Kay Emerick, Logan,OH,USA >
104) Trina Bookman, Logan,OH,USA >
105) Mary Samuelson, St. Louis,MO,USA >
106) Jeannette Ward, Memphis,TN,USA >
107) Elisabeth Davis, Memphis,TN,USA >
108) Rose Klimek, Memphis,TN,USA >
109) Barbara K. White, Hoquiam,WA,USA >
110) Paula J. Eriksen, Palm Harbor,FL,USA >
111) Ragnar Eriksen, Palm Harbor,FL,USA >
112) Marilyn King, CLEARWATER,FL,USA >
113) Barbara Stiner,Oldsmar,FL,USA >
114) Jac'line Weisgerber,Clearwater,FL,USA
115) Charlotte Beadles, Douglasville, GA,USA >
116) Jody Hoadley, Powder Springs,GA,USA >
117) Hope Howard, Atlanta,GA,USA >
118) Cliff Howard, Atlanta,GA USA >
119) Kay Chicoine, Atlanta,GA,USA >
120) Mark Chicoine, Atlanta,GA,USA >
121) Paula King, Lexington,KY,USA >
122) Sally Weissman,Minneapolis,MN,USA >
123) Susan Abbott, New Brighton,MN,USA >
124) Rachel Fine, St. Louis Park,MN,USA >
125) Deb Harley,Eden Prairie, MN,USA >
126) Barb Handahl,Faribault, MN,USA >
127) Ann Olson,Chamberlain,SD,USA >
128) Deb Hunt,Sioux Falls,SD,USA >
129) Anne Frankman, Sioux Falls,SD,USA >
130) Susie Kostel, Tabor,SD,USA >
131) Julie Anderson, Mount Prospect,IL,USA >
132) Janet Tilden, Fremont,NE,USA >
133) Debbie Bowman, Kingston Springs,TN,USA
134) Shari Watkins, Franklin,TN,USA >
135) Teresa Beck, Columbia,TN,USA >
136) Don Hill, Nashville,TN,USA >
137) Suzanne Supplee, Reistertown,MD,USA >
138) Mina Dillard-Gits, Agoura Hills,CA,USA >
139) Negrita Jayde, Venice,CA,USA
139) Gregory Hines, Venice,CA,USA >
140) Laurie Fierstein, New York,NY,USA >
141) Cecelia Casey, New York,NY,USA >
142) Shana Deane, New York,NY,USA >
143) Lynn Neal ,Newark,DE,USA >
144) Rosemary Lane, Bear,DE,USA >
145) Andrea Arena, Newark,DE,USA >
146) Rick Neidig, Wilmington,DE,USA >
147) Lisa Dill, Wilmington, DE, USA >
148) Donna Staring, Newark,DE,USA
149) V.C. Hernande z, Miami,FL, USA > 1
150) G.L. Gonzalez, Miami, FL, USA >
151) K. Casey, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA >
152) A. Lewis, Dallas, TX, USA >
153) S. Shepard, Chicago, IL, USA >
154) K. Smith, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
155) C. McLeod, Leeds, England > 1
156) R.Blechner, Shaumburg, IL USA >
157) J. Blechner, Lake Geneva, WI USA >
158) H.Ruterschmidt,Chicago,IL,USA >
159) M. Ryczek, Park Ridge, IL USA >
160) L. Gotsch-Wenson, Mt. Prospect, IL USA >
161) B. Leon, Chicago, IL USA >
162) C. Domingo, Chicago, IL USA >
163) Fermin R. Domingo III, Round Lake Park, IL USA >
164) Rachel Casarrubias, Round Lake Park, IL USA >
165) Cathy Graves, Maryland, USA >
166) Sandra Klein, Maryland, USA >
167) Beverly Rodgers, Florida, USA >
168) Monika Jones-Lyons, Tampa, Florida, USA >
169) Linda Mahy-Muller, Austin, Texas, USA >
170) Mollie Cook, Elgin, Texas, USA >
171) Lynn Van Blarcum, Edina, MN USA >
172) Andy Magnus, Fort Worth, TX, USA >
173) Jack H. Ablon, Lewisville, Texas USA >
174) Randy Myers, Dallas, Texas USA >
175) Mary Ann Golden, Austin, Texas USA >
176) Karen Boatright, Austin, Texas, USE >
177) Ruthie Oliver, Austin, Texas, USA >
178) Miriam Dell'Olio, Galveston Texas, USA >
179) Faith Ballinger, Humble, TX, USA >
180) Sandy Neuman, Dayton, TX USA >
181) Dale Davidson, Houston, TX USA
182) A. Smith, Eldon, MO USA >
183) Beth Blakeney, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada >
184) Tiffany McGovern, Halifax, Nova Scotia >
185) Carol Longue, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia >
186) Kathy Malpage, Bedford, Nova Scotia
187) Gertie Wood, Lwr Sackville, Nova Scotia >
188) Trina McNamara, Halifax, Nova Scotia >
189) Joanne Parsons, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia >
190) Susan Postma, kelowna,B.C. Canada >
191) Doris Bonn, Kelowna BC Canada >
192) Brandi Hughes, Kelowna BC Canada >
193) Jennifer Johnson, Marquette, MI, USA >
194) Tammie James, Spokane, WA USA >
195) Jodi Reimund, Spokane, WA USA >
196) Sandie Ling, K ent, WA, USA >
197) Kay Mc Comb, Kent, WA, USA >
198) Judith J. Mores, Arlington, WA, USA >
199) Lee Femling, Newcastle, CA, USA >
200) Jean Femling, Costa Mesa, CA, USA >
201) Owen Riss, Colorado Springs, CO >
202) Ann Harjes, Colorado Springs, CO USA >
203) Joe y. toddy, Colorado Springs, CO USA
204) Jim Roies, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
205) John Lehman, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
206) Michelle Lehman, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
207) William Isaac Gilkison, Louisville, CO. USA
208) Jacob W. Whitlow, Westminster, CO. USA
209) Evan R. Crabb, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
210) Lindsay M. Varra, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
211) Dara L. Pacot, Colorado Springs, CO. USA
212) Leslie K. Shalosky, COlorado Springs, CO. USA
213) Patricia A Griffin, Sterling, CO. USA
214) Sara Schmillen, Sterling, CO. USA
215) Chris Schmillen, Security, CO, USA
216) Mary Vollborn Schmillen, Security, CO, USA
217) Betty May, Colorado Springs, CO USA
218) Paula Gibeault, Colorado Springs, CO USA
219) Debra Johnson, Colorado Springs, CO USA
220) Fran De Jarnette, Colorado Springs, CO USA
221) Maxine Stores, Colorado Springs, CO USA
222) Miosheque Moore, Tulsa, OK USA
223) Latasha Nias, New York, NY USA
224) Teresa Thomas, New York, NY USA
225) Elaine Walker, Attleboro, MA USA
226) Mary Cooke, Taunton, MA USA
227) Charlene Molina, Taunton, MA USA
228) Barbara Cooke, Taunton, MA USA
229) Karina Cooke, New York, NY USA
230) Kelly R. McVeigh, New York, NY USA
240) Christina G. Noriega, New York, NY USA
241) Candy Rodo, New York, NY USA
242) Saskia Rombouts, New York, NY USA
243) Katherine Gordon, New York, USA
244) Sara Shankland, Vero Beach, FL, USA
245) William Shankland, Vero Beach, FL, USA
246) Kristina Novickis, San Francisco, CA, USA
247) Aldona Kudirka, Los Angeles, CA, USA
248) Audra Kudirka, Los Angeles, CA, USA
249) Nijole Kudirka, New York, NY, USA
250) Helen Thomas-Williams, New York, NY, USA
251) Sandy Ingoglia, New York, NY, USA
251) Lydia Buonaguro, West Orange, NJ, USA
252) Sally Orie, Toms River, NJ, USA
253) Sue Orie, Toms River, NJ, USA

DIRECTIONS:
1.. PLEASE COPY this email on to a new message.
2.. Sign the bottom
3.. Forward it to everyone on your distribution lists. If you receive this list with more than 300 names on it, please e-mail a copy of it to:

sarabande@brandeis.edu



Even if you decide not to sign, please be considerate and do not kill the petition, just return it to the person who sent it to you.

in this country before. It's deplorable. I really wish there was something we could do about it, and maybe there is. I'm not sure that this email campaign is the thing, but if it works, great!

I just can't wrap my brain around what it would take to change the lifestyle of an entire country.

Shhh,
Whisper

Did anyone see the Behind the Veil documentary, done by the British journalist Sairah Shah? We had it several weeks back down here, and I was so enraged by what I was seeing, while it was still going on I put up a notice on my site saying my site supports RAWA - the Revolutionary Association of Afghani Women. It's not the whole country that needs changing - just the Taleban. They're insane. And in my book - utterly evil.

I haven't seen that documentary, Kendaa. I was under the impression that this was a social thing that the entire country has supported for a long time. It's not? Are these recent developments? Tell me more!

Shhh,
Whisper

Afghanistan was a fairly modern country, with women having the rights that women in most other modern Islamic countries have, until the Taleban took control of Kabul and a good deal of the rest of the country (but not the north - they're still fighting up there). The Taleban immediately enacted laws that forbade women from working, from schooling, and many, many other things. They have to wear the complete, long and all-covering garment, the burqa. Even their eyes are hidden behind a small material screen. One documented case was of a woman who was out driving a car (early on, I believe) and her hand and wrist were exposed. She was publicly executed.

Now, women are not permitted to be out in public without being accompanied by a male relative. No women are permitted to practise medicine, and when a woman does go to a doctor, the male doctors aren't - get this - permitted to examine them directly by looking at them (they do gyno exams by looking in a mirror). Many, many women have died since the Taleban have taken over. A good many have died in childbirth. The Taleban espouse a "pure Islamic" society, but in reality, many Islamic nations have denounced them, because what they are forcing on the people of Afghanistan isn't at all Islamic - it's actually against Islam.

http://rawasongs.fancymarketing.net/index.html

That link will take you to their website, and there are several links on the left hand side to articles and images that will sicken and shock you, Whisper. And anger you.

And you know what the revolutionary activities of these women consist of? Underground schools for their girls and beauty parlours. And they face death if they're discovered.