Mukhtaran Bibi, the Pakistani civil rights leader and worldwide hero, may be coming the United States after all. Intrepid Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reports in his forum that Mukhtar Mai has been informed that she will be allowed to travel to the U.S. and elsewhere as part of a speaking tour on women's rights. The gang-rape victim, who opened schools for illiterate villagers with settlement money, has become a major symbol of freedom and courage, spurring governments to protest her treatment, mainstream media to pick up her cause, and bloggers to lead the way in getting the word of her plight to the world.
Earlier this week, Kristof reported "the Pakistani authorities have now told Mukhtaran that she will be allowed to travel to the U.S. on her own, without an escort – but they still haven’t returned her passport." That would be terrific news, but there are apparently no travel plans yet. Also good news was the personal involvement in the case of U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice who "called the Pakistani foreign minister to tell him to stop beating up on Mukhtaran," according to Kristof. From the State Department briefing:
Secretary Rice spoke with Foreign Minister Kasuri on Thursday. Secretary Rice made it clear that Mrs. Mai was welcome to come the United States at any time and that we were looking to the Government of Pakistan to ensure that she was free to travel whenever she wanted to the United States and that no obstacles would be placed in her way. And we received those assurances.
I applaud Rice's involvement - indeed, it thrills me as an American - and I hope the U.S. government keeps the pressure on. Without support from the Bush Administration, General Musharraf's government simply cannot survive, so the U.S. can clearly have a strong influence on her fate. Clearly, Musharraf realizes he stepped into a public relations disaster.
Only a few weeks ago, outside of those who read Kristof, a handful of journo's in the UK press, the progressive Pakistani media, and a small handful of bloggers, Mukhtaran Bibi was relatively unknown. Now, she's a cause celebre: her story has been featured on network and cable news, on the major news sites, and in syndicated columns around the world. The news services follow her case daily. Hit Google News or Technorati and the links are legion. [She's also received a bunch of marriage proposals].
This, folks, is distributed media in the cause of civil rights. And it has moved the Pakistani regime to retract many of its early actions, and to come very close to a public apology. [See Musharraf's full statement here]. It has caused her attackers to be re-arrested and prosecuted. It has caused the the world to pay attention. For my blogging pals who took part in this over the last few weeks, a hale and hearty thanks - there are more than 200 of you now and I can no longer keep up with keeping a running list.
I will certainly keep following this story, but in many ways, our job is done: the world is watching Mukhtar Mai.
