Mukhtaran Bibi's story reflects the worst and best of humanity. The NY Times' Nicholas Kristof reports that: "As part of a village dispute in 2002, a tribal council decided to punish her family by sentencing her to be gang-raped."
The punishment resulted from a rumor, later proven false, that her 14 year-old brother had consorted with a woman from a rival tribe. Instead of yeilding to the shame that, under the expectations of Pakistani village culture, was supposed to drive her to suicide, she succeeded in having the rapists prosecuted. Six men from her village were sentenced to death.
The Pakistan government compensated her with $8,300, which she used to start a school for girls in her village, where she then enrolled to learn to read. When that money ran out and the government failed to provide the promised continuing support, she sold her family's cow to continue the school. Media reports of her story resulted in $133,000 in donations to the school, which is now attracting volunteer teachers to teach the 130 enrolled girls.
Last week a court in southern Pakistan freed five of the men and overturned the death sentence of the sixth. The men have already begun to threaten Mukhtaran Mai.
Kristof reports "They are her neighbors and will be living alongside her. Mukhtaran was in the courthouse and collapsed in tears, fearful of the risk this brings to her family.
"Yes, there is danger," she said by telephone afterward. "We are afraid for our lives, but we will face whatever fate brings for us."
Mukhtaran Bibi has been renamed Mukhtar Mai by the "local media here in Pakistan...meaning "respected big sister."
In a time when the term "hero" is applied widely and cheaply, knowing how to honor those who truly do create a better world through their courage can be difficult. This one is easy: even small donations will help Mukhtar Mai to survive while she appeals the case. Even small contributions will help to keep alive the dreams that she has introduced in the minds of the "little sisters" enrolled in the school she created from injustice.
Via Tom Watson
