It's a start, anyway. The Muslim world will not be fixed until its slave classes are free.

This story from Kuwait is also cool. And of course, the Kuwaiti clerical establishment is unhappy about the demonstrations.

Heh. Get used to it.

Funny how a story like this does not get as much publicity as it should. I'm sorry to sound mean but women in that culture need to wake the hell up and realize that they're human beings and not just some jerk's foot rest. Your society is failing because you continue to be submissive. Wake the hell up and fight... it's hard but then again freedom has always come at a heavy and painful price. Plus why not fight? It's more painful to be under someone's control than to be hurt physically because you refuse injustice. There's no room for being weak and minimal in life! Plus... men are weak... scare them an inch and they will run a mile... always have been and always will be.

People should remember that Pakistan, that allows the sort of "justice" this woman sufferd is a precious ally of the United States in the "war on terror". If Pakistanis need to wake up and do something, so do Americans.

D. Hayward,

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Savages are savage; hence the term. Maybe Pakistan will become civilized one day, and maybe demonstrations of this sort will hasten that day. I'm not holding my breath, but I sincerely hope that's true. In the meantime, we're fighting a war. Stalin wasn't a real fun guy, but Hitler was the greater threat. The two-bit dictators we supported during the Cold War weren't teddy bears, but they helped us contain the Soviet threat. Now that the Cold War's over, we can afford to support democracy more than we could while it raged, but we live in a fallen world. Sometimes you have to hold your nose and deal with savages to get what needs doing done. Once it is done, we can worry about bringing the light of civilization to Pakistan.

Everyone in a backwards, uncivilized country needs to remember a thing. And it's the same thing I live by today in the US. I rather die on my feet then live on my knees. Keep fighting and maybe someone else will join you!

You have to keep fighting. Remember "it is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Someone else will see this and join. Fighting is the only way to win.

I am considering including this modern power woman in my book, Power Women: Lessons From the Ancient World. Mukhtar Mai has done what women all over the world must do. They must face their terrors. They must use whatever justice system has an iota of courage and integrity. They must not hide, for their shame is not theirs; it is their country's. A country that wraps its women in black, hides their faces from "prying eyes," and denies them freedoms accorded men, shout truths about the men and the society.

Victims tell others. They must publicize the names of individuals, tribes, and clans that abuse them. Mai has become an icon, a modern warrior in the present ancient world. The world is watching over Mai and others who suffer abuse from ignorance and arrogance.

As civilized people, we--men and women--must support her cause, help protect women from the traditions of cruelty and savagery. Pakistan, and other countries that abuse their women,will never rise to the level of respect required of civilized societies until they heal their wrongs against women, indeed against their people as a whole.

Dr. P.D. Sargent
Author, educator, speaker

How can i help Mukhtar Mai? She is a brave woman. May God/Allah help her in her struggles.I would love to meet such a woman that can conquer her fears and choose life. I pray God/Allah protects her and her family.

Here are two websites documenting the number of rapes in the two of the most civilized countries.
http://www.rainn.org/statistics/
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hors276.pdf

If Pakistani society is really so uncivilized then what are the causes of the domestic voilence and the high number of rape incidents in a society of civilized people. What gives rise to traditions of cruelty and savagery in the civilized societies? There are a considerable number of rape and sexual voilence incidents that go unreported, as documented in the links above. Mukhtar Mai gives courage to women not only in her country but others as well to speak out against them. Voilence against women is a global issue. It goes beyond borders, beyond religions and faiths. Dont use it to justify other ideas.

I lived in Lahore for 15 years, a city of 6,000,000. Hardly 1% women wear the traditional covering dress (its not always black) and a majority wear them do it on its own free will. I'll add a few links about a certain university in Lahore. The idea is to share knowledge and dispel myths.

http://www.lums.edu.pk/default.asp
http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/First_Lady/html/generalspeeches/1995/3-27-95.html