Petition for Women

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If you decide not to forward this, please send it

to

sarabande@...

This is an actual petition, and "signatures"

will be lost if

you drop

the line.

Dear Friends:

Please do not ignore this e-mail. This is something that we

as women and

essentially as human beings need to support - I don't know

if this is

going to help but take 3 minutes out of your life to do your

part.

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

who 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

stuffed into 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 on the street, even if

they hold

PhDs.

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. When what little medication that is

left finally

runs out, one doctor is

considering leaving these women in front of the president's

residence as

a form of protest.

It is at the point where the terminology "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 1996. The speed 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 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) m Nayiny, Palo Alto, CA, USA

>3) Sunaina Gulati-Ruh, Palo Alto, CA USA

>4) McCaslin, Palo Alto, CA USAF

>5) Blake Hallanan, San Francisco, Ca. USA

>6) Kit , Sacramento, CA USA

>7) Kara Myers, San Francisco, CA

>8) Ellen Tilden, San Francisco, CA

>9) Ross, San Francisco, CA

>10) Jenna Shaw- Battista, San Francisco, CA

>11) Jeanne Racik, Berkeley, CA

>12) Silas, Oakland, CA

>13) Longstreet, Tarzana,CA

>14) , Encino, CA

>15) , 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) Dexheimer, Los Angeles, CA

>21) Elio Chavez, Jr., Pasadena, CA

>22) Kastigar, Los Angeles, CA

>23) Collie, Los Angeles, CA

>24) Jeff Garvin, Brea, CA

>25) Tricia , Sherman Oaks, CA

>26) Joleen Nordstrom +AH4 Hollywood, CA

>27) Theresa Donahoe - ez,CA

>28) Horn - Concord, CA

>29) Roxanne - Alamo, CA

>30) Miriam Tyler- San CA

>31) Burns- San CA

>32) Lynn Minick- Fort Worth TX

>33) Jeff Neal- Marietta, GA

>34) Neal- Marietta, GA

>35) Frances Murley-Fort Worth, TX

>36) Murley-London, England, UK

>37) Jillian Dykhouse, Colleyville, TX

>38) Bonnie Dykhouse,Colleyville,TX

>39) , Colleyville, TX

>40) ne Farr, Sterling Heights,MI

>41) Joanne Arensberg, Riverview, MI

>42) Luann Ouellette, Vermillion, SD

>43) Sandie Sullivan, Vermillion, SD

>44) Troy , Minneapolis, MN USA

>45) ph , Minnepolis, MN USA

>46) Kathleen , White Bear Lake, MN USA

>47) Jerry Marquis, Mpls. Mn. USA

>48) Stokes, Coon Rapids, MN USA

>49) Ford, Blaine, MN USA

>50) Sheila Lawrence, Monticello, MN USA

>51) Kitchen, Westlake Village, California,USA

>52) Burke, Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

>53) Bruce Ehrlich, Sherman Oaks, CA USA

>54) Yllania Francis, Los Angeles, CA

>55) Drew Hedin, Los Angeles, CA USA

>56) 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. , Okemos, Michigan

>67) Barbara J. Sawyer-Koch, East Lansing, MI

>68) Margaret A. Meyers, Okemos, Michigan

>69) Helen Espes, Okemos, Michigan

>70) Maureen Kirchhoff, spark, CO

>71) Bart , Err, France

>72) Sharon O'Connor, Olympia, WA USA

>73) Helen Nenson, Olympia, WA USA

>74) Kim Hartley, Olympia, WA. USA

>75) Jim Hartley, Olympia, WA. USA

>76) Talitha Thalya, Wa. USA

>77) Lelelewa Tano Rikiho. Boise, ID USA

>78)Shayshoshewa Westin, Boise, ID USA

>79) Rae Ann Gustafson, Boise, ID USA

>80) Ellen Bencken, Boise, ID USA

>81) Rocky Bencken, Boise ID USA

>82) Lucia Thornton, Fresno, CA USA

>83)a Thelen, Livermore,CA USA

>84) Ferioli, Oakland, CA USA

>85) Deborah Drysdale, San Francisco, CA USA

>86) Judy Olasov, San Francisco, CA USA

>87)Lucinda Olasov,Isle of Palms.SC USA

>88) H. Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

>89) Sara Saylor Isle of Palms, SC USA

>90)Ellen McCully Gastonia NC,USA,

>91)Mimi McCully, Gastonia, NC USA

>92) Rose Tully, Raleigh, NC USA

>93) B. Tully, Raleigh, NC USA

>94) Lorraine Welker, Lyon, France

>95) Lucie Bouchard, Lyon, France

>96) Kaine, Lyon, France

>97) Kaine, NYC, USA

>98) Pamela Caye, NYC, USA

>99) Mandel, NYC, USA

>100) e Lackey NYC, USA

>101) Aufmesser, Vienna, Austria

>102) h Aufmesser, Vienna, Austria

>103) Sigrid Weinzinger, Vienna, Austria

>104) Heide Weinzinger, Zell am See, Austria

>105) Erhard Weinzinger, Zell am See, Austria

>106) Doris Steinbichler, Mexico

>107) Rara Avis, Barcelona, Spain

>108) Auer, Vienna, Austria

>109) Timur Hanak-Hammerl, Vienna, Austria

>110) f Fuerst, Vienna, Austria

>111) f P=F6lzl, Vienna, Austria

>112) Wolfgang Sokol, Vienna, Austria

>113) Wolfgang Rohorzka, Wiener Neustadt, Austria

>114) Ralph A. Hamburger, Vienna, Austria

>115) Roland Wagner, Bratislava, Slovakia

>116) Rajter, Bratislava, Slovakia

>117) Alzbeta Rajterova, Bratislava Slovakia

>118) Helena Le Sage, Bratislava, Slovakia

>119) Tony Bomber, Cambridge, England

>120) Anne Seaman, Chelmsford, England

>121) Jan Farndale, Cambridge, England

>122) Janet Moody, Limerick, Ireland

>123) McMahon

>124) Phyl Fitzgerald, Limerick, Ireland

>125) Pamela Daly, Dublin, Ireland

>126) Eddie kelly Tipperary Ireland

>127) Mairead Malone, Clare, Ireland

>128) Mags O'Connor, Limerick, Ireland

>129) Fiona Bolger, Waterford,Ireland

>130) Marie , Offaly, Ireland

>131) Mc Carthy, Waterford, Ireland

>132] Owen McCarthy, Caherciveen, Ireland

>133) Helen Rauch, Clearwater, Fl

>134) Diane Rauch, Farmington Hills, MI

>135) Shirley , Park, MI

>136) Bernadette Dean, Dearborn, MI

>137) Marie Hogan, Detroit, MI

>138) Angelina Michelini, Livonia, MI

>139) Dawn Annette Mills, Tucson, AZ

>140) M Vereb, Tucson, AZ

>141) Stark, St. Louis, MO

>142) Jane Romero, St. Louis, MO

>143) Theresa Mastrogiovanni, Kansas City, MO

>144) Colleen McGrane, St. Louis MO

>145) Lucy Wynkoop, Lacey, WA

>146) Swan, Lacey, WA

>147) Debbie Harr, Lakewood WA

>148) Barbara J. Monda, Olympia WA

>149) Casey, Olympia, WA

>150) Art Stratton, Olympia, WA

>151) Stratton, Olympia WA

>152) Patti Kireview, Seattle, WA

>153) Patti Grossman, Needham, MA

>154) Anita Adelson, Newton, MA

>155) Jane Siegel, Newton, MA

>156) , Suffern, NY

>157) Gloria Goldberg , NY. NY

>158) Balaban Orono, Me

>159) Cris , Lexington, MA

>160) Hartman, Lexington, MA

>161) nne O'Brien, Winchester, MA

>162) Shaqron , Acton, MA.

>163) Barbara Schmitz, Acton, MA

>164) Barbara J. Schmitz, Silver Spring, MD

>165) Debra K. Udey, Kensingon, MD

>166) Marge Gildenhorn, Rockville, land

>167) Jill Tanenbaum, Bethesda, land

>168) Adam, Greenwood VIllage, CO

>169) Clouatre, Vail, CO

>170) Filip-, Dillon, CO

>171) Barb Fulton, Arvada, CO

>172) Jane , Tennessee, USA

>173) Rudy, Tennessee, USA

>174) Vicky Rudy, Texas, USA

>175) Gilbronson Texas, USA

>176) Kathleen Loughlin, Ottawa, Canada

>177) Max Beaton

>178) Bassett

>179) Brennan, Ottawa, Canada

>180) Marie , Ottawa, Canada

>181) Potts, Ottawa, Canada

>182) Hawn, Kingston, Canada

>192) Pitchers, Oxford Mills, Canada

>193) Tyler McCammon, Kemptville, Canada

>194) Tim Holmes, Oxford Mills, Canada

>195) , Hodge, Kemptville

>196) long, Newport Beach, CA, USA

>197) Rhonda Gelman Kelley, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

>198) Marty Tiani, Pittsburgh,PA USA

>199) Salyards, Pittsburgh, PA USA

>200) Karina Zoueva, Pittsburgh, PA USA - Moscow,

Russia

>201) Joan Gauthier, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

>202) Gauthier, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

>203) Collie , Pittsburgh, PA, USA

>204) Rita Levine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

>205) Griffiths, Pittsburgh. PA, USA

>206) Murat Aydede, Chicago, IL, USA

>207) Stein, Chicago, IL, USA

>208) Abner Shimony, Cupertino, CA USA

>209) Helen P. , Cupertino, CA USA

>210) A. Rottschaefer, Portland, OR USA

>211) Marie S. Rottschaefer, Portland, OR USA

>212) Alis Mundt, Portland, OR USA

>213) ette Copperstone, Portland, OR USA

>214) Heller, Portland, OR, USA

>215) Dawn Seeberger, Portland, OR, USA

>216) Seeberger, Portland, OR, USA

217)Joan Seeberger, Olympia, WA, USA

218) Janet Reinhardtsen, Olympia WA, USA

219) Concie Luna, Kennewick, Washington, USA

220)

221) Marilyn Brotherton, Cartier, Mb. Canada

222) Margaret Carswell, Prince Albert,Sk.Canada

223) ston

224) Florence Lalonde

225) O'Brien

226)Cheryl Hetherington

DIRECTIONS: PLEASE USE EDIT /select all /THEN COPY / and

then Paste this

email onto a new message, sign the bottom and forward it to

everyone on

your distribution lists. If you receive this list with

more than 300

names on it, please e-mail a copy of it to

abande@....

Even if you decide not to sign, please be considerate and do

not kill

the petition.

Thank you

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