© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

6/8/2002 - Another World Is Possible by Leena Z. Khan

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler William F Foote Kitty Hempstone Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Ann Mische Dasa Obereigner Paul A Rahe Chandler Rosenberger Katherine Sreedhar Edmund Sutton Dirk J Vandewalle HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A LZK SOUTH ASIA Leena Z Khan former Institute Fellow studied intersection culture women lives Pakistan Another World Is Possible By Leena Z Khan Leena Khan fellowship Pakistan where studying situation women under strictures current previous Islamic governments short creasing terrorist activity Karachi where living She returned United States delivered report fellowship Institute Members Trustees friends assembled their annual meeting Monmouth University West Long Branch NJ June When I began fellowship Pakistan people country heard Pervez Musharraf Today household international statesman He Pakistan through perhaps difficult period history When I journeyed Pakistan little I I would forced leave abruptly And little I events unfold upcoming would change Pakistan entire global community Today I going about implications Islamic extremism threat women struggle equality Pakistan I difficult decision returning prior completion fellowship number reasons Eight months I assertive leadership enlightened pragmatism flecting vision Pakistan espoused founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah However months following President Musharraf decision U S against terrorism order situation within Pakistan ticularly Karachi where I living worse There blasts daily sectarian motivated killings frequent strikes called religious political parties Karachi would become paralyzed following these incidents followed eerie giving superficial impression Over I invested tremendous mount energy establishing contacts settling Karachi In country Paki contacts least initially I relied number sonal connections Throughout I reminded myself I several things working favor I relatives living I stand foreigner I spoke local language Perhaps these reasons I invited number social religious political gatherings I trust women otherwise would willing foreigners I choice leave until I absolutely Even I wrote Peter under month about decision return States I ambivalence mixed disappointment sadness overall feeling leaving things unfinished I begun start peeling layers understanding women relation history culture religion social stand But I ollowed inner voice which saying mobility study sense objectivity being affected Today sense insecurity within country greater before Musharraf I along Pakistanis helplessly watched deterioration order country For May Sheraton blast disturbing wakeup reminder Pakistan losing against domestic terrorism The general sense among Pakistanis government unable perform fundamen function protect property citizens It exaggeration terrorists hijacked religion taken citizens country hostage What amounted prevailing sense country about already In environment where diverse religious elements brandishing versions militant Islam women bound suffer I journeyed Pakistan whether there women movement country direction heading progress women years Over I observed Pakistan movement traditional sense emergence consciousness significant minority public toward condition women The origins women movement traced Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan Pakistan first prime minister formed All Pakistan Women Association APWA Then Women Ac Forum WAF which formed WAF active At WAF intensive protests demonstrations against women promulgated Pakistan brutal military dictator General Zia Haq The represented major history movement women greater activism While WAF today I handful women still involved activism continuing debate discriminatory against women One extremely discriminatory still books Hudood Ordinance formulated General Zia While Hudood Ordi nance covered theft drunkenness bearing false witness harmful toward women Zina Ordinance which deals adultery The still books grave concern thinking women Many women until repealed increase women freedom largely superficial The disturbing aspect Zina Ordinance treatment women victims Pakistani legal procedures heavily weighed against victim As I mentioned newsletters woman files report police raped probably treated criminal rather victim Under Ordinance woman filed prove pious adult Muslim males witnessed If cannot considered admitted having illicit sexual relations charged The maximum penalty death stoning married persons lashes unmarried persons In recent months Zafran Bibi forced women groups refocus their attention ordinance immediate repeal Zafran Bibi lived Kohat district North West Frontier Province husband sentenced prison years murder One while alone fields husband brother raped When discovered pregnant filed police Like women Pakistan Zafran Bibi treated criminal The police registered against saying filed The charge stated since months pregnant filing habitual criminal The final judgment which appeared press troubling It sentenced Zafran Bibi death stoning because LZK failed impossible burden proving occurred Due timely intervention women groups Zafran Bibi given immediate relief North West Frontier Province government Her spared A weeks before I Karachi U S I attended conference organized Aurat Foundation women NGO focused primarily capacity building The conference aimed forming strategies repeal Hudood Ordinance attended women including several justices The partici pants conference along educated Pakistanis agreed General Zia misused Islam support religious groups legitimize prolong military repressive In National Commission Status Women statutory organization formed under presidential mandate objective forms discrimination against women The Com mission given mandate review women related policies taken successive govern ments In recent weeks commission committee review Hudood Ordinances recommendations government Many urban women access power whether terms education class economic resources before What I unfortunately women still exceptions rather While urban women furthering their education marriage still central focus young woman Even upper classes parents their greatest settled meaning husband While marriage still priority Pakistani women employment In cities economic necessity pushed growing number women classes working outside In larger cities Karachi Lahore Islamabad women working almost walks medical legal offices universities restaurants banks running their businesses Women rural areas typically average hours which spent laboring fields Although I often which Pakistan changing women painfully there positive indicators change Under President Musharraf Devolution Plan whereby delegated central government powers subsidiary local bodies unprecedented percent seats reserved women local governments In local elections I witnessed encouraging results women councilors stood elected countrywide While women politicians Pakistan around there difference Previously handful women politics belonged elite class dynastic power linkages Today newly elected officials mainstream backgrounds rural areas The Aurat Foundation instrumental political mobilization women elections Soon after current government announcement reserved number seats women Aurat Foundation began campaign aimed mobilizing women greater political process public offices The message Musharraf government sending women positive women I sympathetic their cause Benazir Bhutto Participation women Pakistani politics still Most elected councilors about extent their powers authority Their roles largely undefined still evolving It extensive training women councilors confid their collec presence Currently early judge their performance gauge difference future Some patriarchal system found Pakistan existence Islam predates arrival religion continent This practice honor killings INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS While Islamic patriarchy justify brutal practice actually blatant contradiction Islamic injunctions According report recently published Shirkat Gah Karachi based women NGO woman killed every province Sindh honor In Punjab women killed every Worldwide percent women killed honor killed Pakistan These figures reflect those cases reported I observed victim upper class urban woman press coverage sensational woman killed remote rural village report hardly receive lines paper In latter media downplays event impact As investigation honor killings I accompanied women Shirkat Gah villages Sindh Although I unable complete study newsletter subject I would share findings The origins honor killings Pakistan traced Islamic tribal culture Balochistan Northwest Frontier Province Migrating tribes Bolochistan carried their tribal upper Sindh southern Punjab where practice continues Karo means blackness infused social stigma attached adultery Death still today erase stigma Mere suspicion rumor hearsay sufficient condemn woman death There evidentiary requirements establish surprisingly woman never permitted defend herself In recent years there where dreamt sleep unfaithful killed awakening In Sindhi village outside Larkana I young woman named Hawa labeled black woman paternal uncle Her uncle fabricated story insinuating illicit relations Hawa escaped death after taken local jirga tribal council Her father agreed uncle large money settle existing financial dispute Hawa lucky since mother neighboring village after settlement As Hawa accusations adultery fabricated latest statistics state nearly percent cases sheer fabrication I began fully understand dehumanizing practice after I traveled friend local journalist graveyard Prior embarking friend years before foreign journalists doing story honor killings When locals found destroyed their cameras demanded journalists leave Despite risks volved hired local guide limits Unlike foreign journalists Pakistanis likely attract attention We drove Larkana through Sindh countryside before reached small bankment Our guide would We walked about minutes scorching before reaching desolate graveyard There sight I never forget I hundreds mounds ridden thorns overgrown bushes These mounds which stone markings graves Our guide largest graveyard entire province Sindh perhaps Pakistan He karis buried regular graveyard because stigma attached their They given proper burial rites And their family members allowed mourn death their loved visit burial taken place What slowly emerged study killed innocent women settle vendet acquire secure money existing debts settle property dispute According anthropological studies killing women restore honor taking place centuries lands China throughout Mediterranean While world abolished system continues operate Pakistan where worth community still vested notions shame honor directly linked these possessions All becomes possible because LZK woman considered murderer victim dishonor The Pakistani penal recognize special defense crimes honor In instance where courts defense grave sudden provocation acquit deliver reduced sentences claim honor reason their women A named generally spared paying person whose called honor disgraced What Pakistani women living urban areas never heard practice This difficult question answer I still answer myself What I practice honor killings stems largely entrenched patriarchal thinking combined selective adoption Islamic injunctions In Pakistan aspects Muslim jurisprudence promoting predominance Zina Ordinance widely accepted Islamic injunctions protecting rights women systematically rejected Inversely customs contra Islam ensure supremacy accepted continue flourish One after fellowship I realize difficult describe typical Pakistani woman simple reason exist It privilege heard personal stories Pakistani women walks Depending where lives Pakistani woman herself tribal feudal urban environment She highly qualified confident professional effac peasant toiling alongside She central figure authority government belong income ghetto Like woman Pakistan influenced social system region class which belongs But whether Pakistani woman belongs elite toiling masses whether lives remote Sindhi village dynamic environment Karachi shares things common Her degree influ enced environment where honor crimes Hudood Ordinance continue flourish The present government which heartedly criticized Hudood Ordinance courage repeal discriminatory without backlash religious extremists On bright there growing willingness among women discuss their problems various forms discrimination openly This result efforts women NGOs which roomed country While activist spirit vanished level consciousness Women finding creative express their experiences gender class social discrimination I number contemporary women artists Nahid Raza Salima Hashmi Sheema Kirmani challenging society question status women The media journalism changing women enter these fields One Pakistan widely magazines Herald founded managed group women A friend asked before I States whether knowing I I would still Pakistan conduct study Without hesitation I responded Despite seemingly insur mountable problems Pakistan faces I taken people innate goodness their incredible generosity warmth their ability under trying circumstances It important ensure Pakistani women benefit rights granted through Islam years In doing women invoke principles ijtehad respectively INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS sensus reasoning further their struggle If country Saudi Arabia could these principles slavery Pakistan apply these principles elevating status women If government Afghanistan policy repeal discriminatory towards percent population Pakistan crossroads leaders choose throw shackles conservative regressive elements society women hostage centuries In order women movement impact there remains serious reexamine legal system Islam light developments today context My Pakistani women friends repeatedly Islam women rather narrow interpretation religion Many tired Islam woman debate resent politi cizing religion successive governments Pakistan struggling emerge outdated traditions while holding others I think Pakistan choose between tradition modernization It celebrate forme without having reject latter Coexistence between traditional modern Pakistan strength greatness All change begins slowly New ideas sizeable minority eventually change entrenched beliefs I quote founder Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah strong advocate change No nation height glory unless women We victims customs It crime against humanity women within walls their houses prisoners You should women along comrades every sphere Finally I would thank Peter Martin words encouragement support guiding throughout challenging Pakistan Also thanks Brent Jacobson Ellen Kozak trustees members Institute Finally thank family their patience under standin importance fellowship LZK INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Fellows Their Activities Martha Farmelo April ARGENTINA A Georgetown graduate major psychology minor Spanish Master Public Affairs Woodrow Wilson School Princeton Martha Institute Suzanne Ecke McColl Fellow studying gender issues Argentina Married Argentine economist mother small focusing genders which immensely important Italo Latino machismo Martha involved Latin America professional having worked Catholic Relief Services Inter American Development Bank Costa Rica Human Rights Watch Ecuador Inter American Foundation El Salvador Uruguay UN World Conference Women Beijing Curt Gabrielson December EAST TIMOR With Missouri background MIT degree physics Curt ending years East Timor watching nation create education system ashes Indonesian system Since finishing MIT Curt focused delivering inexpensive culturally relevant hands science education minority income students Based Teacher Institute Exploratorium San Francisco worked youth teachers Beijing Tibet Mexican agricultural Watsonville California Andrew Rice May UGANDA A former staff writer New York Observer reporter Philadelphia Inquirer Washington Bureau Newsday Andrew spending years Uganda watching waiting reporting possibility anticipated African Renaissance might begin administration President Yoweri Museveni Andrew B A Government Georgetown minor Theology after having spent semester Charles University Prague where served ntern Velvet magazine later traveled experienced wrote about conflict Balkans Matthew Z Wheeler October SOUTHEAST ASIA A former research assistant Rand Corporation specializing South Southeast Asia Matt spend years looking proposals plans realities regional integration disintegration along Mekong River China Vietnam With B A liberal Sarah Lawrence M A Harvard East Asian studies Blakemore Fellowship Thai language studies Matt short conflicts Burma Thailand Laos Cambodia account lives writes learns about region James G Workman January Southern Africa A policy strategist national restoration initiatives Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt Jamie ICWA Donors Fellow looking southern African nations South Africa Botswana Mozambique Z ambia maybe Zimbabwe through their utilization conservation fresh water supplies A Yale graduate History spent junior Oxford Jamie journalism fellowship Poynter Institute Media Studies wrote New Republic Washington Business Journal before years Babbitt Since served Senior Advisor World Commission Dams Cape Town South Africa Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying signed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows quired report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis assessment interna tional events issues ICWA Letters ISSN published Ins titute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail ICWA valley Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The information contained lication reproduced writer permission Author Khan Leena Z Title ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South America Europe Russia Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa