Rapists Are Terrorists

Today in A Free Woman Nicholas Kristof follows up on the life of Mukhtaran Bibi, a Pakistani woman who has transcended the politics of hate despite atrocities inflicted upon her.

Ms. Bibi received world-wide attention thanks to Mr. Kristof's articles detailing how three years ago a village council that was upset at her brother sentenced her to be gang-raped as his punishment.

After the four men - who had brought false charges against her brother - raped her, Ms. Bibi was forced to walk home "nearly naked before a jeering crowd."

Expected to commit suicide - which is what women in her culture are expected to do after such emotional trauma in order to avoid loneliness, humiliation and social ostracism - she defied tradition by not committing suicide and, instead, testifying against her attackers.

The four were sent to prison and she was awarded a small amount of money which she used to start elementary schools in her village and hire protection against her assailant's relatives.

However, in an effort to kill Ms. Bibi's growing popularity as a role model - and to "protect" Pakistan's image as a "good" country - President Pervez (must be pronounced 'perverse,' don't you think?) Musharraf jailed Ms. Bibi to quiet her and released her attackers.

Astonishing.

One can only wonder - if he is so supportive of rape and rapists - what does he do to outright murderers?

Does he say: "Hey - we didn't like those people anyway" - referring to the murder victims - and find the murderer more targets?

It would make as much sense.

After much public outrage, President Perverse has just released Ms. Bibi. However, if he wants to create a good image for Pakistan, he needs to jail rapists - not their victims.

The U.S. Senate issued an anti-lynching ban last week, along with an apology for not condemning and banning this brand of U.S. domestic terrorism sooner - like two hundred years ago.

I think it's time the U.S. Congress stood up and issued a proclamation that rape is not just a crime against women that destroys lives, but a crime against humanity.

And I'd like to see the 87 Senators - who humbled themselves to apologize for the Senate's history of ignoring the terrorism of lynching - now issue a proclamation against the terrorism of rape. (You can just bet that the 13¹ Senators - all Republicans - who, unbelievably, didn't become co-sponsors couldn't be bothered with that little "women's issue.")

I'd like to see the 87 with conscience send a copy of that proclamation to President Musharraf with a letter to the effect of: Your efforts "against terror" are meaningless unless you campaign - vigorously - against the terror that no one talks about - rape.

Rape is domestic terror. Rapists at home and abroad are terrorists. They deserve to be prosecuted as such.

Which reminds me why I really like gay men who have good sex lives and long-term partners.

They never rape women.

That's always left to the "moral" majority.

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To help Ms. Bibi - who has, herself, enrolled in 4th grade - continue her program of educating women and speaking out, you can send donations to:

Mercy Corps
Mukhtaran Bibi Fund
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669

To stay informed on such international abuse issues and/or to contribute to efforts to eradicate abuse, visit Asian-American Network Against Abuse of Women.

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¹Alexander, Lamar (R-TX), Bennet, Robert (R-UT), Cochran, Thad (R-MS), Cornyn, John (R-TX), Ezi, Michael (R-WY), Gregg, Judd (R-NH), Hutchinson, Kay (R-TX), Kyl, John (R-AZ), Lott, Trent (R-MS), Shelby, Richard (R-AL), Smith, Gordon (R-OR), Sununu, John (R-NH), Thomas, Craig (R-WY)