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Afghan Woman Athlete Seeks Political Asylum
WHY ISN'T THE BUSH ADM DOING MORE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS IF THEY EXPECT US TO SUPPORT THIS WAR? IF KARZAI WANTS TO STAY IN POWER HE HAD BETTER ACT TO PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS OR GET THE F OUT OF THE WAY. FOR A START HE CAN FREE THE JOURNALIST SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DISTRIBUTING WOMEN'S RIGHTS LITERATURE. WHAT IS BO'S POSITION ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS? NO DIFFERENT THAN BUSH.
Mehbooba Andyar, Afghan's only female athlete scheduled to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, disappeared from her training facility in Formia, Italy, on July 4, just weeks before the opening ceremonies. According to Spiegel International, Andyar told her parents she is seeking political asylum in Europe due to death threats spread by extremists who disapprove of women taking part in sports.Andyar, who has always been seen in a head scarf and full-length body covering, was an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship athlete, paid for by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to TIME. The 19-year-old was training with the International Association of Athletics Federation in Italy before she vanished with her bags and passport.
The IOC states that they have had no contact with the runner. The Spiegel International reports that the Afghan Olympic Committee's deputy chairman Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti told the Associated Press last week that Andyar injured her leg. However, Andyar’s family said that the runner feared reprisal for her internationally recognized sports career and did not plan to return to Afghanistan. Afghan Olympic Committee members have reportedly threatened to hold Andyar's family responsible if she does not return and possibly throw them in jail.
According to the TIME, Afghanistan was banned from the 2000 games due to the Taliban's policy of prohibiting women from participating. The 2004 Olympics marked the first time female Afghan athletes competed in the games since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Two female athletes, Robina Muqimyar who ran the 100 meters and Frida Rezihi who competed in judo, were among those competing in 2004. Spiegel International said that while these women were happy to return to Afghanistan, Andyar decided to flee for safety sacrificing her chance to compete in the 2008 summer games.
Media Resources: TIME 7/9/08; Spiegel International 7/14/08
Mehbooba Andyar, Afghan's only female athlete scheduled to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, disappeared from her training facility in Formia, Italy, on July 4, just weeks before the opening ceremonies. According to Spiegel International, Andyar told her parents she is seeking political asylum in Europe due to death threats spread by extremists who disapprove of women taking part in sports.Andyar, who has always been seen in a head scarf and full-length body covering, was an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship athlete, paid for by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to TIME. The 19-year-old was training with the International Association of Athletics Federation in Italy before she vanished with her bags and passport.
The IOC states that they have had no contact with the runner. The Spiegel International reports that the Afghan Olympic Committee's deputy chairman Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti told the Associated Press last week that Andyar injured her leg. However, Andyar’s family said that the runner feared reprisal for her internationally recognized sports career and did not plan to return to Afghanistan. Afghan Olympic Committee members have reportedly threatened to hold Andyar's family responsible if she does not return and possibly throw them in jail.
According to the TIME, Afghanistan was banned from the 2000 games due to the Taliban's policy of prohibiting women from participating. The 2004 Olympics marked the first time female Afghan athletes competed in the games since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Two female athletes, Robina Muqimyar who ran the 100 meters and Frida Rezihi who competed in judo, were among those competing in 2004. Spiegel International said that while these women were happy to return to Afghanistan, Andyar decided to flee for safety sacrificing her chance to compete in the 2008 summer games.
Media Resources: TIME 7/9/08; Spiegel International 7/14/08
posted by Greenconsciousness
at 10:40 AM - Link
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NEWS FROM WAMI FRONT--ACTION ALERT, TWO IN FACT,
one, similar case in UK of course not posted on Women's Space, alas,
woman in court in UK today, who may be forced back to Lebanon where her ex will get automatic custody of children...the English courts may pander to Sharia,
that, and this just in from Jihad Watch, we got word of it, WAMI will be all over this, PASS IT FORWARD,
we in or having been in far left Recognize this strategy and rhetoric and its NOT good, its a means to force intimidation and clamp down on women's human rights activists when confronting Islam,
and its coming now from the Obama camp, from Obama himself
Obama to hire a "Muslim liaison," who insists that "American women need to understand that what is best for them is not necessarily what is best for Muslim women"
Since American women consider freedom, equality, and independence to be "best for them," does that mean Muslim women don't, or rather, wouldn't, if given the chance? "Obama campaign hires Muslim liaison," from Politico, July 21:
Obama's campaign has created a Muslim liaison, according to two sources familiar with the move.
The sources said the job was likely to be filled by Haim Nawas, a Jordanian-American who filled a similar role for the campaign of General Wesley Clark in 2004.
The job is complicated by the fact that Obama has been forced repeatedly to deny that he is Muslim, a situation that grates on some Muslim-Americans.
Nawas wrote in 2005 that the Bush Administration should take a more nuanced approach to public diplomacy directed at Muslim women.
"We need to recognise that the social structure in the Muslim world is very different from America's," she wrote. "American women need to understand that what is best for them is not necessarily what is best for Muslim women. Advocacy of women’s rights in the Muslim world must show sensitivity to local political realities."
Posted by Raymond
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