[Sca-cooks] Women's Rights in Afghanistan Petition to the UN

[Elaine Koogler]

Subject: Women's Rights in Afghanistan

  If you decide not to forward this, please send it back to me. This is
an actual petition to the
United Nations, and "signatures" will be lost if you drop the line.
Include other members of your
household who are willing to sign.  Oprah recently had a show about this
atrocity and it was
heartbreaking.

Petition to the United Nations Background Information:

Madhu, the government of Afghanistan, is waging a war upon women.  Since
the Taliban took
power in 1996, women have had to wear burqua and have been beaten and
stoned in public
for not having the proper attire, even if this means simply not having
the mesh covering in
front of their eyes.

One woman was beaten to death by an angry mob of fundamentalists for
accidentally exposing
her arm(!) while she was driving. Another was stoned to death for trying
to leave the country
with a man that was not a relative. Women are not allowed to work or
even go out in public
without a male relative; professional women such as professors,
translators, doctors, lawyers,
artists and writers have been forced from their jobs and restricted to
their homes. Homes
where a woman is present must have their windows painted so that she can
never be seen by
outsiders. They must wear silent shoes so that they are never heard.
Women live in fear of their
lives for the slightest misbehavior.
Because they cannot work, those without male relatives or husbands are
either starving to
death or begging in the street, even if they hold Ph.D.'s. Depression is
becoming so widespread
that it has reached emergency levels. There is no way in such an extreme
Islamic society to know
the suicide rate with certainty, but relief workers are estimating that
the suicide rate among women
must be extraordinarily high: those who cannot find proper medication
and treatment for
severe depression and would rather take their lives than live in such
conditions. At one of the
rare hospitals for women, a reporter found still, nearly lifeless bodies
lying motionless on top of
beds, wrapped in their burqua, unwilling to speak, eat, or do anything,
but slowly wasting
away. Others have gone mad and were seen crouched in corners,
perpetually rocking or
crying, most of them in fear.

It is at the point where the term "human rights violations" has become
an understatement.
Husbands have the power of life and death over their women relatives,
especially their wives,
but an angry mob has just as much right to stone or beat a woman, often
to death,
for exposing an inch of flesh or offending them in the slightest way.

Women enjoyed relative freedom: to work, to dress generally as they
wanted, and to drive and
appear in public alone until only 1996. The rapidity of this transition
is the main reason for the
depression and suicide; women who were once educators or doctors or
simply used to basic
human freedoms are now severely restricted and treated as subhuman in
the name of right-wing
fundamentalist Islam. It is not their tradition or "culture," but it is
alien to them, and it is extreme
even for those cultures where fundamentalism is the rule.

Everyone has a right to a tolerable human existence, even if they are
women in a
Muslim country.  If we can threaten military force in Kosovo the name of
human rights for the sake
of ethnic Albanians, citizens of the world can certainly express
peaceful outrage at the oppression, murder
and injustice committed against women by the Taliban.

STATEMENT: In signing this, we agree that the current treatment of women
in Afghanistan is
completely UNACCEPTABLE and deserves action by the United Nations and
that the current
situation overseas will not be tolerated. Women's Rights is not a small
issue anywhere, and it is
UNACCEPTABLE for women in 2001 to be treated as subhuman and as so much
property.
Equality and human decency is a fundamental RIGHT, not a freedom to be
granted, whether
one lives in Afghanistan or elsewhere.
1) Giuliana D. Black, Daly City, CA, USA
2) Mariam Nayiny, Palo Alto, CA, USA
3) Sunaina Gulati-Ruh, Palo Alto, CA USA
4) Megan McCaslin, Palo Alto, CA USA
5) Blake Hallanan, San Francisco, Ca. USA
6) Kit Henderson, Sacramento, CA USA
7) Kara Myers, San Francisco, CA
8) Ellen Tilden, San Francisco, CA
9) Vanessa Ross, San Francisco, CA
10) Jenna Shaw- Battista, San Francisco, CA
11) Jeanne Racik, B!erkeley, CA
12) Julie Silas, Oakland, CA
13) Renee Longstreet, Tarzana, CA
14) Susan Johnson, Encino, CA
15) Kenneth Johnson, Encino, CA
16) Terri Treas, Los Angeles, CA
17) Amy Retzinger, North Hollywood, CA
18) Babette Crooms, Los Angeles, CA
19) Olivia Kienzel; Santa Barbara, CA
20) Sean Dexheimer, Los Angeles, CA
21) Elio Chavez, Jr., Pasadena, CA
22) Gregory Kastigar, Los Angeles, CA
23) Robert Collie, Los Angeles, CA
24) Jeff Garvin, Brea, CA
25) Tricia Allen, Sherman Oaks, CA
26) Joleen Nordstrom ~ Hollywood, CA
27) Theresa Donahoe - Martinez,CA
28) Jennifer Horn - Concord, CA
29) Roxanne Ryan - Alamo, CA
30) Miriam Tyler- San Jose CA
31) John Burns- San Jose CA
32) Kristin Lynn Minick- Fort Worth TX
33) Jeff Neal- Marietta, GA
34) Anna Neal- Marietta, GA
35) Frances Murley-Fort Worth, TX
36) David Murley-London, England, UK
37) Jillian Dykhouse, Colleyville, TX
38) Bonnie Dykhouse,Colleyville,TX
39) Nancy Williams, Colleyville, TX
40) Georgene Farr, Sterling Heights, MI
41) Joanne Arensberg, Riverview, MI
42) Luann Ouellette, Vermillion, SD
43) Sandie Sullivan, Vermillion, SD
44) Troy Nelson, Minneapolis, MN USA
45) Joseph Miller, Minneapolis, MN USA
46) Kathleen Miller, White Bear Lake, MN USA
47) Jerry Marquis, Mpls. Mn. USA
48) Julie Stokes, Coon Rapids, MN USA
49) Tracy Ford, Blaine, MN USA
50) Sheila Lawrence, Monticello, MN USA
51) Brenda Kitchen, Westlake Village, Calif!ornia,USA
52) Teresa Burke, Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
53) Bruce Ehrlich, Sherman Oaks, CA USA
54) Yllania Francis, Los Angeles, CA USA
55) Drew Hedin, Los Angeles, CA USA
56) Laura Paridon, Laguna Woods, CA USA
57) Jeanie Hagedorn, Des Moines, IA USA
58) Sue Christensen, Des Moines, IA USA
59) Sybil Finken, Glenwood, IA USA
60) Luke Finken, Earth
61) Doug Gerace, Lincoln, NE USA
62) Cheryl Gerace, NE
63) Sheri Lew, CO
64) Raven Grace, Boulder, CO
65) Martha M.Mertz, EL, Michigan
66) Colleen R. Cooper, Okemos, Michigan
67) Barbara J. Sawyer-Koch, East Lansing, MI
68) Margaret A. Meyers, Okemos, Michigan
69) Mary Helen Espes, Okemos, Michigan
70) Maureen Kirchhoff, Allenspark, CO
71) Bart Johnson, Err, France
72) Sharon!O'Connor, Olympia, WA USA
73) Nancy Irving, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
74) Martha Lindley, Seattle, WA, USA
75) Judith Alexander, Woodinville, WA, USA
76) Arlene B. Hawkinson, Seattle, WA, USA
77) Christine E. Mobley, Bothell, WA, USA
78) Trudie Breen, CA, USA
79) Catherine Standiford, CA, USA
80) Beverly Truett, AZ, USA
81) Christine Meehan,AZ,USA
82) Janice Gilbert, Valley Center, CA, USA
83) Dawna Upchurch, Anchorage, AK USA
84) Roxanna Groves, Olympia, WA USA
85) Lynda Lynde, Helena, MT USA
86) Constance Gelu, University Place, WA USA
87) Jodi Woolett, Tacoma, WA USA
88) Lisa I. Reeves- Lynden, WA USA
89) Amanda James-Bow, WA USA
90) Kelli J. Smith, New Port Richey, FL USA
91) Chris Poirier, Largo, Fl USA
92) Mike Carpenter, Palmetto, Fl USA
93) Alice Pryor, Melbourne FL USA
94) Ellen Catano, Manchester NH USA
95) Bevely Jennings, Cincinnati OH USA
96) Linda Feely, Norwood,OH USA
97) Sherry Stidham, Norwood OH USA
98) Brittany Brown, Cincinnati OH USA
99) Sandy Brown, Cincinnati, Oh USA
100) Tim Brown, Cincinnati, OH USA
101) Pat Brown, Cincinnati, OH USA
102) Amy Cregger, Memphis, TN USA
103) Kay Emerick, Logan, OH USA
104) Trina Bookman, Logan, OH USA
105) Mary Samuelson, St. Louis, Mo USA
106) Jeannette Ward, Memphis, TN USA
107) Elisabeth Davis, Memphis, Tn USA
108) Rose Klimek, Memphis, TN USA
109) Barbara K. White, Hoquiam, WA, USA
110) Paula J. Eriksen, Palm Harbor, Florida USA
111) Rag!nar Eriksen, Palm Harbor, Florida USA
112) MARILYN KING, CLEARWATER, FL, USA
113) Barbara Stiner,Oldsmar,FL,USA
114) Jac'line Weisgerber,Clearwater,FL,USA
115) Charlotte Beadles, Douglasville, GA, USA
116) Jody Hoadley, Powder Springs, GA, USA
117) Hope Howard, Atlanta, GA, USA
118) Cliff Howard, Atlanta, GA, USA
119) Kay Chicoine, Atlanta, GA USA
120) Mark Chicoine, Atlanta, GA USA
121) Paula King, Lexington, KY,USA
122) Sally Weissman,Minneapolis,Mn,USA
123) Susan Abbott, New Brighton, MN USA
124) Rachel Fine, St. Louis Park, MN, USA
125) Deb Harley,Eden Prairie, MN,Usa
126) Barb Handahl,Faribault, MN,USA
127) Ann Olson,Chamberlain S.D.USA
128) Deb Hunt,Sioux Falls S.D.USA
129) Anne Frankman, Sioux Falls, SD USA
130) Susie Kostel, Tabor, SD USA
131) Julie Anderson, Mount Prospect, IL USA
132) Janet Tilden, Fremont, NE USA
133) Debbie Bowman, Kingston Springs, TN, USA
134) Shari Watkins, Franklin, TN, USA
135) Teresa Beck, Columbia, TN USA
136) Amy Stephens, Brentwood, TN, USA
137) Vicki Warren, Lyles, TN, USA
138) Linda Lupo, Westland, MI, USA
139) Cathie McClary, Clinton Twp. MI, USA
140) Diane Catellane, Clinton Twp. MI, USA
141) Judy Mellen, Clarkston, MI, USA
142) Donna Waite, Lake Orion, MI, USA
143) Ann Acton, South Lyon, MI, USA
145) Tami Hall, South Lyon, MI, USA
146) Wendy Belsley, South Lyon, MI, USA
147) Gretel Coombs, East Lansing, MI, USA
148) Mike Jones, Lansing, MI, USA
149) Jeff Jones, Atlanta, GA, USA
150) Marion Jones , Atlanta, GA , USA
151) Pat Scott, Enumclaw, WA, USA
152) Bob Panzer, Houston, TX, USA
153) Pat Panzer, Houston, TX, USA
154) Joe Schwartz, Jacksonville AL USA
155) Stefanie Walfield, Fayetteville, NC, USA
156) Liz Dunkley, Milledgeville, GA, USA
157) Christine Dunkley, Milledgeville, GA, USA
156) Mike Dunkley, Milledgeville, GA, USA
157) Randy Parsons, Eatonton, Ga.
158) Bonita Platner, Kirkwood, NY. USA
159) Ralph Platner, Kirkwood, NY. USA
160) Charles Lundquist, Binghamton, N.Y. U.S.A.
161) Tracy Rowe, Hollywood, CA USA
162) Daniel Raphael New York, New York USA
163) Ann Brameier, New York, NY USA
164) Kazuko Tao, Healdsburg, Ca USA
165) Shelley Zavat, Rio Nido, Ca. USA
166) Kendall Smith, Fort Bragg, Ca USA
167) Candi Zizek, Sacramento, California USA
168) Annette Blackwood, West Hartford, CT USA
169) Frank Sentner, West Hartford, CT USA
170) Ann Steadman, Roanoke, VA USA
171) George Steadman, Roanoke, VA USA
172) Elizabeth Byam,Washington, DC USA
173) Mary Dougal,Montclair, NJ USA
174) Kathleen Ennen, Champaign, Il. USA
175) Patricia S. Berky, Baltimore, Md. USA
176) Wahiba Abu-Ras, Old Bridge, NJ. USA
177) Magdi Awad, Old Bridge, NJ USA
178) Melissa Joralemon, NY USA
179) Vida Cofie-Robertson, NJ USA
180) Sema Gurun, NY, USA
181) Rehana Ahmad-Haque
182) Abdou Seye, Luanda-ANGOLA
182) Babacar N'diaye, Paris France
183) Fatou N'diaye Seye, NJ USA
184) Abdou Seye, NY, USA
185) Yumersis Amancio NY, USA
186) Salvador Cohen
187} Rolando Faistman
188} Alicia Libeson, NY, USA
189) Claudia Venturelli BA, Argentina
190) Diana Sommer, Tel Aviv, Israel
191) Francesca R. Carasso, Argentina
191) Shirley Moskow, Lexington, MA, USA
192) Laurie Moskow, Groton, MA USA
193) Jeff Moskow, Groton, MA USA
194) Janet Dracksdorf, Boston, MA USA
195) Stephen Mills, Boston, MA USA
196) Nancy Tag, New York, NY USA
197) Nicholas F. Scordato, New York, NY USA
198) Danny Dries, New York, NY USA
199) Ann Derry, New York, NY USA
200) Jennifer Crowell, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA
201) Alison Bryan Crowell, Pacific Palisades, CA USA
202) Eleanor Galt Crowell, Pacific Palisades, CA USA
203) Richard R. Crowell, Pacific Palisades, CA USA
204) Maggie Fellner Hunt, Pacific Palisades, CA USA
205) James K. Hunt, Pacific Palisades, CA USA
206) Anna Chen, Hong Kong
207) Tina Chen-Chardonnet, Oakland, CA, USA
208) Melodi Blackmore, Oakland, CA USA
209)Lara Pisicoli, San Francisco, CA USA
210) Francey Pisicoli, Calgary, AB Canada
211) Karen Lazaruk, Calgary, AB Canada
212) Sandra Heidt, Prince George, BC, Canada
213) Garner Keeling, Calgary, AB Canada
214) Jennifer Lucier, Tracy, CA USA
215) David R. James, Eureka. MT USA
216) D Kimberly Cary, Hayden, ID USA
217) Dawn McConnell, Coeur d Alene, ID USA
218.) Shannon Bennett, Hayden, Idaho USA
219) Melody Small, Rathdrum, Idaho, USA
220) Virginia R. Balser, Hayden, ID
221) Mr. & Mrs Robert Davis, Hayden, Id, USA
222) Mary Barton, Chico, CA
223) Roy Barton, Chico, CA
224) Darlene R. Saunders, Rail Road Flat, CA
225) Larry E. Saunders
226) Mary Peterson, Spokane, WA
227)Sarah Therriault Anchorage, Alaska
228) Linda D.G. Wong Honolulu, HI
229) Rodney Lau, Honolulu, HI, USA
230) Anna Lau, Honolulu, HI USA
231) Jennie Lau, Honolulu, HI USA
232) Mark Lau, Honolulu, HI USA
233) Debra Lee Wagner, Logan, UT USA
234) Joanne K. Phillips, Lahaina, HI USA
235) William Clark, Hilo, HI USA
236) Jan Hille, Hollister, CA
237) Lynn Terezas Livermore,Ca USA
238) Gary Price, Bakersfield, CA USA
239) Dottie Johns, Bakersfield, CA USA
240) Sonja Swenson, Bakersfield, CA USA
241) David Koeth, Bakersfield, CA USA
242) Diana Koeth, Bakersfield, CA USA
243) Sharon Nold, Spring Valley, CA USA
244) Paul Nold, Spring Valley, CA USA
245) Lenora Smith, Spring Valley, CA, USA
246) John Smith, Spring Valley, CA, USA
247) Kimberly Smith, Spring Valley, CA,USA
248) Ray Adair, San Diego, CA,. USA
249) Teresa Stubbings, Lancaster, CA, USA
250) Sheldon Sloan, Santa Monica, CA, USA
251) Jacqueline Connor, Santa Monica, Ca, USA
252) Kelly Anderson, Pacific Palisades, CA, USA
253) Dina Skrumbis, Los Angeles, CA, USA
254) Penny Norris, Los Angeles, CA, USA
255) Elizabeth B. Braun, Wilton, CT, USA
256) Diane Tipton Bradt, Bethesda, MD, USA
257) Lyn Lansdale, Bethesda, MD USA
258) James Page Lansdale, Bethesda, MD USA
259) Susan Pitts Dykstra, McLean, VA, USA
260) Martha A. Last, McLean, VA, USA
261) David M. Lowry, Columbia, SC, USA
262) Thomas P. LaJoie, NC, USA
263) Heather K. LaJoie, NC USA
264) Kathryn B. MacAlister, VA, USA
265) Bruce R. MacAlister, VA, USA

266) Bonnie Steffey, VA, USA

267) Gary Steffey, VA, USA

268) Steven G Hennessee, Richmond, Virginia
269) Elaine Koogler, Prince Frederick, MD, USA


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