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One of the highlights of my reporting stint in southern Afghanistan has been the conversations I've had with local women. One interview I'll never forget was with Shala and Rayalia, two pregnant women from rural Panjwai district. The story was about Afghanistan's high infant and maternal mortality rates.
For safety reasons, both arrived to the interview at a secret location in Kandahar city well before me. Neither wanted to be seen with a Westerner for fear that could upset insurgents. Both came wearing burkas.
If I had have been a male reporter, the interview would have never happened. In this part of the country, women aren't allowed to be in the same room with a male who isn't their husband or related to them. A male interpreter was allowed to be present only because he was known to the women and received permission from their husbands. Photographs could only be taken with their burkas pulled up slightly to show their clothes underneath, but not too far for fear their breasts could be shown.
During the interview, Shala, 32, and Rayalia, 41, lifted their full body veils over their heads to expose their faces, and were both extremely forthright about the challenges facing expecting mothers in a war-ravaged country. At times, they seemed relieved that someone was listening to them. The stress of being pregnant in such a dangerous place was definitely wearing on them.
As the interview was winding down, Shala asked me how it was possible that I, a married 33-year-old woman, didn't have any children. What ensued was a lively and giggle-filled conversation only women can have about everything from condoms to birth control pills to vasectomies. It was so frank that the male interpreter even blushed at times.
Rayalia and Shala asked lots of questions. Like most Afghan women, both are illiterate. They told me the extent of woman's sex education in this deeply religious and conservative area of the country is often what their mother tells them right before they marry. Shala, a mother of three, desperately wants to stop having more children. She has been too embarrassed to get advice from her own doctor.
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The Phantom from Canada writes: The Karzai regime has instituted the death penalty for adultery as well as for insulting Islam. Bring our troops home now. Our role in this war and our part in supporting this corrupt puppet government is shaming all Canadians and our children will be disgraced by our deeds today.
GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW.
It is wrong to kill women for adultery.
It is wrong to kill people who insult Islam.
It is wrong to threaten to kill women for adultery.
It is wrong to threaten to kill people for insulting Islam.
Shame on Canada and shame on our soldiers.- Posted 19/06/08 at 12:49 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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Jeff T from Canada writes: And leaving changes all of the above how exactly Phanton Credibility?
- Posted 19/06/08 at 6:57 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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S Anderson from Canada writes: Jeff
Phantom has no credibility, he's just out on a day pass and found an Internet Cafe to post his usual nauseating remarks.
Don't take him serious, nobody else does.- Posted 19/06/08 at 10:53 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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