malalai-eve

The following open letter is part of an international national campaign to demand justice for Shakila, who was a 16-year-old girl raped and murdered in Afghanistan. rabble.ca will have more in-depth coverage of this case in the weeks ahead. 

We are writing to bring to your attention the case of a poor 16-year-old Afghan girl named Shakila, who was raped and murdered on 22 January 2012 by Wahidi Behishti, a warlord member of the provincial council of Bamian province.

We feel strongly that Wahidi Behishti should be prosecuted for this crime to the full extent of Afghan law, however fellow warlords like Sayed Hussain Anwari, Alami Balki and other members of Parliament are defending Wahidi Behishti by creating a story about Shakila’s supposed suicide and falsely accusing Shakila’s brother-in-law of the crime.

Because of the corruption within the judicial system in Afghanistan, powerful forces are conspiring to close the case and rule in favor of Wahidi Behishti despite the meticulous forensic reports, witness testimony and other supporting evidence that Shakila’s family has compiled.

For too long powerful warlords have waged a war against Afghan women. The international media, human rights organizations and global citizens can no longer standby and allow these crimes to take place with complete impunity.  In the name of justice for the countless Afghan women who have died and continue to be targeted by heinous violence, we urge you to tell and investigate Shakila’s story.

To learn more about the case, please contact the Defense Committee for Malalai Joya.

Many thanks in advance for your time and support.

Sincerely,

Eve Ensler 

Malalai Joya

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Eve Ensler is an American author playwright, performer, feminist and activist. 

Malalai Joya is an activist and former Member of Parliament in Afghanistan. 

Photo: http://www.onebillionrising.org/