Sibyl Ruth worked as an editor in in the field of creative writing for nearly 30 years. She is also a widely published writer of poetry and prose. Guess what happens next?
Thank you for sharing your story, women truly benefit from knowing that other women are experiencing the same injustices, and for the same biological reason!
The best of luck to you Sybil, and thank you JB, your words say it best.
I'm writing to ask if anyone can help Marya an Afghan woman rights activist who is fleeing the Taliban. Marya's a woman's rights activist. She has her 12 old niece with her whose stepfather wanted to sell her to an elderly man so Marya fled the country with her and a younger sister. Both the enraged stepfather and the Taliban are trying to hunt them down.
She is now stuck in Pakistan and will be deported back to Afghanistan (facing possible imprisonment or death) by the end of the month if she can't find a safe country that will give her asylum. If you would write a letter in her behalf to find safe haven and send it to the UNHCR in Pakistan or email it to me so I can forward it to Marya Maani we will be forever grateful! Time is critical. Whatever you can do to help Marya Maani will be much appreciated. UNHCR Case Number: 622-23-00474 regarding Marya Maani. Thank you for reading our plea, Sincerely, Betsy Warrior, Anti-violence Activist
UNHCR Representative in Pakistan. Oct 2023
No.2 Diplomatic Enclave, QUAID-E-AZAM, University Road, Sector G-4,
Re: Asylum Emergency: UNHCR Case Number: 622-23-00474
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am writing in behalf of Marya Maani who is an Afghan woman living in Pakistan. We have heard the alarming news that the Pakistan government is planning to eject the Afghani refugees who now live there. This is especially terrifying news for Marya Maani as she can’t go back to Afghanistan since she fled for her life shortly after the Taliban took power. Even before this news Marya Maani was desperate to leave Pakistan because her life there is also imperiled.
Marya Maani has a long history of advocating for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan. As an organizer of Education for Girls she canvassed door to door throughout Kabul and in rural areas. She has been a strong opponent of honor killings, domestic violence, acid attacks, hijab laws, virginity tests, harassment at work and in public places, home confinement, child marriage and other laws and practices that crush the life out of the women and children of Afghanistan. Along with thousands of other courageous Afghan women she has tirelessly advocated for better education and health care for women and helped to teach rural women practical skills to allow them some resources of their own and more independence.
Shortly after the United States left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over the government Marya Maani participated in activities and demonstrations to protect women’s human right to receive an education, to get humane medical treatment and to partake in the life most of us take for granted. Because of this she was targeted by the Taliban with threats of death, acid attacks, and rape as well as constant baiting and mocking and humiliation in public and had to go into hiding. She has been followed by the Taliban and barely escaped them. Her brother was not so lucky. He was detained and tortured by the Taliban in an effort to find the whereabouts of his sister Marya. Other members of her family are being threatened and terrorized as well.
As is characteristic of Marya Maani she is also looking out for the welfare and safety of her younger sister and minor niece. When she was forced to flee the country Marya took her niece (who is now 12 years old) and younger sister with her. Her niece’s stepfather tried to sell her to an elderly man to get money; as is happening to many girl children in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. As a result, Marya took the child with her when she fled the Taliban. Because of this her niece’s stepfather became enraged and has threatened to hunt them down in Pakistan and kill them. These three young females without money, without jobs, without family or a male protector are extremely vulnerable in a society where women are often unsafe. They need to get out of danger; out of Pakistan as every day their lives are at risk. They need to find a country where they can begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
Marya Maani has spent years of dedicated commitment to improving the lives of women and children in Afghanistan. How can we not help to improve hers?
Sincerely, Betsy Warrior, Founder of the Battered Women’s Directory
Hi again Mike. Your ESP is running high today in your claims of what I will and will not do but you’ve missed the mark. Not only am I reasonably familiar with Collins poorly sourced information regarding rape I have also given the blog a quick view too before responding. Might I suggest you consider our views re: equal treatment are not mutually exclusive. (Do not consider this my endorsement of the many uncited stats and unscientific comments Collins lists in his blog. But not all his ideas are without merit.) Men/boys can be receiving unfair and poor treatment in some circumstances while women do as well. Respectful treatment and equal rights are not a zero sum game. I believe in upholding equal rights for all. Those removing equal rights and threatening or harassing others are responsible for their actions, not some indirect third party they want to cast aspersions at because they don’t agree with them.
Have you read any other statistics regarding rape from any other sources than Collins? Have you investigated the sources of information by Collins? Have you observed firsthand any of the TRA aggressive and violent behavior towards women? How open are you to opposing views? As my ESP is not strong I won’t hazard a guess but your views here don’t sound as though you have done any of the above or that you have any concern on women’s rights.
Ultimately, this article is about stopping the abuses towards women today which you express no concern over, but instead are set upon with wanting to blame feminists. Women, feminists or otherwise, are not responsible for the actions of these ill behaved men. These men are responsible for their own behavior.
Aww, thanks. I knew that if I argued with him I would be getting into the gutter with him and I would just have raised blood pressure. I just had that gut reaction about icky he is. Had to edit this as voice to text isn’t working so well this morning.
Julie, your relentless portrayal of trans ideology as the consequence of misogyny in general, or Men's Rights Activists (MRAs) in particular, is beyond laughable. Trans ideology is clearly a product of feminism, and I refer your followers to Professor Janice Fiamengo's article, "Anti-trans Feminists Are Now Reaping the Whirlwind":
Feminists' belief that many men are misogynists is, of course, a projection of their own visceral misandry. Extremely few men exhibit misogyny, even after being treated contemptibly by women e.g. after being the victims of false rape allegations - William Collins estimates using only official stats in "The Empathy Gap" that 77% of rape allegations made to the police in the UK are false - or being denied access to their children at their mother's request (usually involving false allegations of abuse) in the family courts.
Thank you for sharing your story, women truly benefit from knowing that other women are experiencing the same injustices, and for the same biological reason!
The best of luck to you Sybil, and thank you JB, your words say it best.
I'm writing to ask if anyone can help Marya an Afghan woman rights activist who is fleeing the Taliban. Marya's a woman's rights activist. She has her 12 old niece with her whose stepfather wanted to sell her to an elderly man so Marya fled the country with her and a younger sister. Both the enraged stepfather and the Taliban are trying to hunt them down.
She is now stuck in Pakistan and will be deported back to Afghanistan (facing possible imprisonment or death) by the end of the month if she can't find a safe country that will give her asylum. If you would write a letter in her behalf to find safe haven and send it to the UNHCR in Pakistan or email it to me so I can forward it to Marya Maani we will be forever grateful! Time is critical. Whatever you can do to help Marya Maani will be much appreciated. UNHCR Case Number: 622-23-00474 regarding Marya Maani. Thank you for reading our plea, Sincerely, Betsy Warrior, Anti-violence Activist
UNHCR Representative in Pakistan. Oct 2023
No.2 Diplomatic Enclave, QUAID-E-AZAM, University Road, Sector G-4,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1263, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: 41 22 739 7514 Fax: 41 22 739 7515 Email: PAKIS@UNHCR.ORG
Re: Asylum Emergency: UNHCR Case Number: 622-23-00474
Dear Madam or Sir:
I am writing in behalf of Marya Maani who is an Afghan woman living in Pakistan. We have heard the alarming news that the Pakistan government is planning to eject the Afghani refugees who now live there. This is especially terrifying news for Marya Maani as she can’t go back to Afghanistan since she fled for her life shortly after the Taliban took power. Even before this news Marya Maani was desperate to leave Pakistan because her life there is also imperiled.
Marya Maani has a long history of advocating for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan. As an organizer of Education for Girls she canvassed door to door throughout Kabul and in rural areas. She has been a strong opponent of honor killings, domestic violence, acid attacks, hijab laws, virginity tests, harassment at work and in public places, home confinement, child marriage and other laws and practices that crush the life out of the women and children of Afghanistan. Along with thousands of other courageous Afghan women she has tirelessly advocated for better education and health care for women and helped to teach rural women practical skills to allow them some resources of their own and more independence.
Shortly after the United States left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over the government Marya Maani participated in activities and demonstrations to protect women’s human right to receive an education, to get humane medical treatment and to partake in the life most of us take for granted. Because of this she was targeted by the Taliban with threats of death, acid attacks, and rape as well as constant baiting and mocking and humiliation in public and had to go into hiding. She has been followed by the Taliban and barely escaped them. Her brother was not so lucky. He was detained and tortured by the Taliban in an effort to find the whereabouts of his sister Marya. Other members of her family are being threatened and terrorized as well.
As is characteristic of Marya Maani she is also looking out for the welfare and safety of her younger sister and minor niece. When she was forced to flee the country Marya took her niece (who is now 12 years old) and younger sister with her. Her niece’s stepfather tried to sell her to an elderly man to get money; as is happening to many girl children in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. As a result, Marya took the child with her when she fled the Taliban. Because of this her niece’s stepfather became enraged and has threatened to hunt them down in Pakistan and kill them. These three young females without money, without jobs, without family or a male protector are extremely vulnerable in a society where women are often unsafe. They need to get out of danger; out of Pakistan as every day their lives are at risk. They need to find a country where they can begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
Marya Maani has spent years of dedicated commitment to improving the lives of women and children in Afghanistan. How can we not help to improve hers?
Sincerely, Betsy Warrior, Founder of the Battered Women’s Directory
Hi again Mike. Your ESP is running high today in your claims of what I will and will not do but you’ve missed the mark. Not only am I reasonably familiar with Collins poorly sourced information regarding rape I have also given the blog a quick view too before responding. Might I suggest you consider our views re: equal treatment are not mutually exclusive. (Do not consider this my endorsement of the many uncited stats and unscientific comments Collins lists in his blog. But not all his ideas are without merit.) Men/boys can be receiving unfair and poor treatment in some circumstances while women do as well. Respectful treatment and equal rights are not a zero sum game. I believe in upholding equal rights for all. Those removing equal rights and threatening or harassing others are responsible for their actions, not some indirect third party they want to cast aspersions at because they don’t agree with them.
Have you read any other statistics regarding rape from any other sources than Collins? Have you investigated the sources of information by Collins? Have you observed firsthand any of the TRA aggressive and violent behavior towards women? How open are you to opposing views? As my ESP is not strong I won’t hazard a guess but your views here don’t sound as though you have done any of the above or that you have any concern on women’s rights.
Ultimately, this article is about stopping the abuses towards women today which you express no concern over, but instead are set upon with wanting to blame feminists. Women, feminists or otherwise, are not responsible for the actions of these ill behaved men. These men are responsible for their own behavior.
Aww, thanks. I knew that if I argued with him I would be getting into the gutter with him and I would just have raised blood pressure. I just had that gut reaction about icky he is. Had to edit this as voice to text isn’t working so well this morning.
Julie, your relentless portrayal of trans ideology as the consequence of misogyny in general, or Men's Rights Activists (MRAs) in particular, is beyond laughable. Trans ideology is clearly a product of feminism, and I refer your followers to Professor Janice Fiamengo's article, "Anti-trans Feminists Are Now Reaping the Whirlwind":
https://fiamengofile.substack.com/p/anti-trans-feminists-are-now-reaping
Feminists' belief that many men are misogynists is, of course, a projection of their own visceral misandry. Extremely few men exhibit misogyny, even after being treated contemptibly by women e.g. after being the victims of false rape allegations - William Collins estimates using only official stats in "The Empathy Gap" that 77% of rape allegations made to the police in the UK are false - or being denied access to their children at their mother's request (usually involving false allegations of abuse) in the family courts.
Mike Buchanan
JUSTICE FOR MEN & BOYS
http://j4mb.org.uk
LAUGHING AT FEMINISTS
http://laughingatfeminists.com
CAMPAIGN FOR MERIT IN BUSINESS
http://c4mb.uk
Ick.