>Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 01:45:02 -0400
>From: "Dr. Riffat Hassan" <[email protected]>
>
>FRIENDS, PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS URGENT MESSAGE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.
>YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IN GENERATING SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THE LAW
>AGAINST "HONOR KILLINGS". OPPOSITION TO THIS LAW WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE
>ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 21 IS MOUNTING IN PAKISTAN, ESPECIALLY AMONGST
>RELIGIOUS GROUPS. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, WITH
>REGARDS, RIFFAT HASSAN
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>
>Dear Members and Friends,
> We have just been informed by INRFVVP Member Farhat Naz Rahman
>(Karachi Pakistan) that the government of Pakistan is intending to pass
>a law against "honor killings" on April 21, 2000.
> Here it is to be noted that the first ever conference on Human
>Rights and Human Dignity is to be held at the Fazaldad Institute for
>Human Rights in Islamabad on April 21 and 22, 2000, and will be
>inaugurated by General Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of Pakistan.(
>This Institute has been established in honor of Mr. Fazaldad Wahla, a
>Pakistani who grew up in California and was on a visit to Pakistan when
>he was killed on September 24, 1999, when he was trying to save a
>village girl who was about to become a victim of an "honor killing".
>This tragic story was put on the INRFVVP listserv on October 19, 1999,
>and is being re-circulated) Information about this conference may be
>obtained from www.pakhumanrights.org
> A number of religious groups and leaders have begun to protest
>against the law which is being formulated. Their contention is that
>"honor killings" are permissible in Islam - a contention strongly
>opposed by the INRFVVP. On the other hand, the voices of women - either
>as individuals or through NGO's, are not being raised in visible support
>of the government initiative. This is something that causes great
>concern to the INRFVVP.
> Whatever the reservation of any Pakistani may be to the present
>military-led government of Pakistan, it must be recognized that by
>taking a decisive stand against "honor killings," this government has
>taken a huge step forward toward putting Pakistan on the right moral
>track. No previous government of Pakistan has had the political will or
>the moral courage to confront the issue of violence toward women as a
>national issue of the highest importance.
> It is certain that given the negative attitudes and ideas
>toward women pervading the cultural environment id Pakistan, opposition
>to the new law against "honor killings" will mount as the time for its
>official announcements comes closer. IT IS A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST
>PRIORITY THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES WHICH OPPOSE "HONOR
>KILLINGS," SEND A MESSAGE OF STRONG SUPPORT TO
>THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN. THE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
>NEEDS AND DESERVES OUR WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE INITIATIVES IT IS
>TAKING TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION. IF WE REMAIN
>SILENT AT THIS TIME WE WILL LOSE A VERY PRECIOUS, HARD-SOUGHT,HARD-WON,
>OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE WAY TO REAL REFORM IN PAKISTAN.
> Please address your email messages of support to GENERAL
>PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, Chief Executive of Pakistan, or ZUBAIDA JALAL,
>Minister for Women's Development, and send them to the following email
>addresses:
>1. [email protected]
>2. [email protected]
>3. shoaib.isb.sdnpk.org
>4. [email protected]
>Also, please send copies of your messages to your local and national
>leaders and legislators and to human rights organizations known to you.
> I thank you in advance for your contribution to very
>important struggle, and remain.
> With my best wishes and regards,
> Riffat Hassan.
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