http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32014077
This article discusses the violent death of an Afghan woman named Farkhunda. The woman, a religious scholar, was arguing with a mullah about his selling charms to women at a shrine. As their argument escalated, the mullah accused Farkhunda of burning the Koran. This statement was overheard by others nearby, who then took it upon themselves to beat her, strike her with bats, stomp her, run her over with a car, drag her now lifeless body behind a car, and then burn her body in a ditch. 18 people have been arrested for the murder, and 13 police officers have been suspended for failing to control the situation (earlier reports claimed that the police did nothing to dissuade the mob from their attack.) The incident has received international attention, and has sparked protests across Afghanistan. At her funeral, Farkhunda's body was carried by noted Afghani Women's Rights activists.
This story demonstrates just how tenuous the idea of Women's Rights remains in Afghanistan. American forces may have liberated the country from the Taliban, but the cultural beliefs that allowed and indeed welcomed the Taliban and their strict interpretation of Islam to previously rule the nation obviously still thrive. Similar to the United States "implementing" democracy in foreign nations whose governments we topple, spreading Western ideas about Women's Rights (while noble) is also fraught with disaster for the individuals left to live with these new ideas. I fear we may have started yet another fire, and that this time, an innocent woman was literally burned by it.
Farakhunda's ashes...
Angry Protests.
This article discusses the violent death of an Afghan woman named Farkhunda. The woman, a religious scholar, was arguing with a mullah about his selling charms to women at a shrine. As their argument escalated, the mullah accused Farkhunda of burning the Koran. This statement was overheard by others nearby, who then took it upon themselves to beat her, strike her with bats, stomp her, run her over with a car, drag her now lifeless body behind a car, and then burn her body in a ditch. 18 people have been arrested for the murder, and 13 police officers have been suspended for failing to control the situation (earlier reports claimed that the police did nothing to dissuade the mob from their attack.) The incident has received international attention, and has sparked protests across Afghanistan. At her funeral, Farkhunda's body was carried by noted Afghani Women's Rights activists.
This story demonstrates just how tenuous the idea of Women's Rights remains in Afghanistan. American forces may have liberated the country from the Taliban, but the cultural beliefs that allowed and indeed welcomed the Taliban and their strict interpretation of Islam to previously rule the nation obviously still thrive. Similar to the United States "implementing" democracy in foreign nations whose governments we topple, spreading Western ideas about Women's Rights (while noble) is also fraught with disaster for the individuals left to live with these new ideas. I fear we may have started yet another fire, and that this time, an innocent woman was literally burned by it.
Farakhunda's ashes...
Angry Protests.
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