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NEWS & LETTERS, October-November 2006Protest for human rights in PakistanNew York—A demonstration by Pakistani-Americans challenged Gen. Musharraf, the unelected president of Pakistan, when he came to town for UN summit meetings on Sept. 18. Vigorous chants of "women’s rights are human rights" and "what do we want? democracy!" filled the midtown block across from Musharraf’s hotel. Spearheaded by the Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights (ANAA), the rally demanded an immediate end to violence against women, repeal of religious laws that promote injustice, the restoration of democracy, and protection for religious and ethnic minorities and for defenders of human rights. Speakers pointed out that Pakistan is one of the leading violators of human rights, especially women’s rights. A main focus of the rally was to demand the repeal of the Hudood and Zina Ordinances and other laws which are highly discriminatory against women. Many rape victims land in jail if they try to seek justice due to these religious-based laws. Musharraf recently announced that the Ordinances would be repealed, but then backed down and agreed to modify them instead. Pakistan has no laws against domestic violence, and beatings, rapes and killings are committed with impunity, as in the recently publicized rape cases of Dr. Shazia Khalid and Mukhtaran Mai. So-called "honor" crimes, usually the murder of disobedient women by family members, average two a day. A corrupt police force and multiple court systems compound the legal injustices. The government is also responsible for harassment, beatings and murders of human rights activists and journalists. "We are asking for a global coalition to demand the restoration of human rights and democracy in Pakistan," said ANAA president Dr. Amna Buttar. Apparently Musharraf has been hurt by ANAA, since his government recently alleged that Buttar is really an Indian! Co-sponsors of the rally included Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Equality Now, several Sindhi and other Pakistani groups, and student groups, but few people besides Pakistani-Americans attended. For information, see www.4anaa.org. —Anne Jaclard |
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