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Help Dr. Shazia Khalid


This is a disturbing story. Please be advised.

Some of you might've heard about it. Dr. Shazia, a married woman living in Bulochistan, Pakistan was returning home from work when she was viciously attacked and raped by a Pakistani Army Captain in early January, 2005...in her very own home.

The Army Captain had tied her arms and legs and threatened her to keep quiet or else he'd kill her. The ordeal lasted the whole night and the culprit repeatedly raped her and beat her, meanwhile taking some breaks to watch TV.

In the morning, when Dr. Shazia reported the incident to her fellow residents, they told her to keep quiet and not to tell the police. They then went ahead and sent her to a psychiatric hospital in Karachi and furthermore, made sure her family didn't know about the incident.

But the word did get out, and when her husband's father found out, he sent a band of goons to kill her so that she would not be a stain to the family's honor. Luckily for her, Dr. Shazia was able to escape but when her story made airwaves in Pakistan, Gen. Musharraf made sure to quiet the commotion to relieve the pressure he was feeling from a rape incident/honor killing just a few months earlier. The similarities between these cases are horrifying.

Instead of prosecuting the Pakistani Captain (whom they identified by the condoms that he left behind), the Gov't told Dr. Shazia to leave the country and to "save face". She was extradited to the U.K., where her family was promised a job and a home. Instead, they were ram shacked in an underground joint somewhere in the ghettos of London, where they had no jobs, or food, and no one to turn to for help.

When Dr. Shazia tried to get asylum in Canada (where her relatives were staying) the Canadians denied the request, citing the fact that she already had asylum in the UK. (This I couldn't believe). But what's most disturbing is the fact that her rapist is still free, roaming the streets of Baluchistan...untouched.

I can't even begin to understand how one can justify laws that punish the victims of such crimes and furthermore, give the perpetrators of such acts the upper hand. It is inconceivable trying to understand the logic behind such backward practices.

Bros and sisters, we cannot just keep quiet when incidences like this keep happening. We need to come together and show solidarity in our voice that such ridiculous practices be outlawed and banned from our homeland.

If there is any justice in this world, let it show itself. This isn't just about one woman, it?s about the horrific state of affairs our world is currently in and our need to not only recognize that fact, BUT TO CHANGE IT. Please think of your own family when you read this. It only takes an email (below).
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. You can send an e-mail to Joseph Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1, Canada (email: [email protected]) and ask for asylum for Dr. Shazia.

2. Readers who want to help Dr. Shazia more directly, or find out more about her case, can contact the Asian American Network Against Abuse of Women, 4anaa.org.

3. NYC HUMAN RIGHT RALLY - Sept 2005
First ever human rights for all in Pakistan rally (word) (pdf) in NYC on September 2005. DR.SHAZIA KHALID will be speaking at the Rally. If you are interested in taking part in or volunteering your time in preparation for the rally, please email: [email protected].
 

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Login to find out (August 6, 2005 at 5:16am)
thanks for sharing, will spread the word out.
 
Login to find out (August 5, 2005 at 8:02am)
yeah that would be great. thanks.
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:46pm)
do you want me to copy & paste this on other villages?
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 4:42pm)
cool.. will do
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 4:22pm)
good to see such great support guys. All the information can be found on 4anaa.org.

please post this all over the internet. we need to get the word out!
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 11:02am)
do we have a UK version of AANA - i am feeling left out
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:50am)
thanks for sharing this... i will spread the word by putting it on the ladies only village too...
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:50am)
Stajani, please wave a banner only. Don't flash or something.....and by flashing I mean the girl who flashes lap signs at Daytona.
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:42am)
and shirin.. wave a banner for me .. or something
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:20am)
Labina, darling you are awesome...I will check it out :) thank you
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:15am)
shirin i reckon there are 2 rallies/ talks...? one by AANA and one by Amnesty
www.4anaa.org

and onlypunjab.com
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 10:07am)
Hey I want to go to the NYC HUman Right Rally...where do I find the info???
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 8:54am)
this is getting really common in pak isnt it?

and just recently there was this case of a village woman who was 'honor raped'

i have never seen more khusras and rape stories anywhere else !
 
Login to find out (August 4, 2005 at 8:49am)
where is she now - still in the UK? and without a place to live?

will be sending out the emails.. thanks for the info verbalkent

great that she is due to give a talk in the US via amnesty international